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BEK 1964.11 :: axe

Object description: This implement may be a ceremonial battle-axe, as indicated by its well-preserved condition, fine workmanship and highly polished surface. It is half axe, half hammer and the longitudinals of both parts together form an obtuse angle. The axe has a flaring blade with the upper side facetted lengthwise, probably an imitation of the cast-seam of its metal counterparts. In the middle there is a well-drilled hole for the handle. Axes of this type have to a large extent been found in Troy. The most well known examples come from Schliemann’s Treasure from Troy II. It was discovered in 1890 near the center of the citadel and included four magnificent battle-axes; three made of nephrite and one of lapis lazuli. They are all well-polished and decorated with ridges and knobs in relief. Similar pieces have also been excavated in South Russia (Bessarabia, Borodino) and on the Greek mainland (Thessaly), which may exemplify the far-reaching commercial contacts in which Troy also participated. The type is further represented in East Anatolia (Alisar) by a fragment of a similar axe made of green stone. Typologically they all belong to a kind of a battle axe occurring from North Scandinavia to Switzerland, South Germany, Hungary, and South and Central Russia. The examples deriving from South and Central Russia may be intermediaries between the axes from the North and Asia Minor, but it seems more probable, however, that this type of battle-axe is characteristic of the Eastern Mediterranean. The axe was important in antiquity, in war, in the chase, as well as for domestic purposes. Making one was a rather complicated procedure with the simple instruments available – flint knives, sand and water. A suitable piece of stone was worked out with a hammer, and then sharpened and polished on a block of sandstone., and fastened onto a handle. The perforation, probably made before the final treatment, was drilled with a stick, sand and water. Since the occurrence of this kind of axe is most frequent in Troy, one may base the dating of this example on a comparison with its counterparts from that area. The type is represented once in Troy I and it is most probable that it was only exceptionally in use in the Mycenean period and later. The main part of the axes with a known find-context was, with a few exceptions, found in the layer of Troy II. This axe is therefore likely to derive from Asia Minor, possibly the area of Troy. Typologically it seems to belong to Troy II or circa 2500-2300 BC. Marie-Louise Winbladh

Data elements

Inventory number

BEK 1964.11

Serie nummer

1038

Object

axe

Object, Swedish

yxa

Country - Findspot

Turkey : Asia

Place - Findspot

Anatolia

Material

Stone. Greenish serpentine

Material, Swedish

Serpentin; Bergart; Sten

Exhibitions

Donation of the Hungarian-American professor Georg von Békésy (1899-1972). He was leader of the research-department at the Hungarian Telephone Company until he left Hungary in 1946. After spending a period at the Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm (1946-1947), professor at Harvard University (1947-1966), and after that he served at the University of Hawaii. In 1961, he was awarded the Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine in Stockholm. His good relations to Sweden resulted in several donations received by Swedish Museums in 1972. The numbers connected with the objects in these donations are still those given by von Békésy himself.

Loan out - Planned

2021.0005, Nationalmuseum, Ungern

Acquisition

The Georg von Békésy Collection

Acquisition, Swedish

Georg von Békésy samling

Description

This implement may be a ceremonial battle-axe, as indicated by its well-preserved condition, fine workmanship and highly polished surface. It is half axe, half hammer and the longitudinals of both parts together form an obtuse angle. The axe has a flaring blade with the upper side facetted lengthwise, probably an imitation of the cast-seam of its metal counterparts. In the middle there is a well-drilled hole for the handle. Axes of this type have to a large extent been found in Troy. The most well known examples come from Schliemann’s Treasure from Troy II. It was discovered in 1890 near the center of the citadel and included four magnificent battle-axes; three made of nephrite and one of lapis lazuli. They are all well-polished and decorated with ridges and knobs in relief. Similar pieces have also been excavated in South Russia (Bessarabia, Borodino) and on the Greek mainland (Thessaly), which may exemplify the far-reaching commercial contacts in which Troy also participated. The type is further represented in East Anatolia (Alisar) by a fragment of a similar axe made of green stone. Typologically they all belong to a kind of a battle axe occurring from North Scandinavia to Switzerland, South Germany, Hungary, and South and Central Russia. The examples deriving from South and Central Russia may be intermediaries between the axes from the North and Asia Minor, but it seems more probable, however, that this type of battle-axe is characteristic of the Eastern Mediterranean. The axe was important in antiquity, in war, in the chase, as well as for domestic purposes. Making one was a rather complicated procedure with the simple instruments available – flint knives, sand and water. A suitable piece of stone was worked out with a hammer, and then sharpened and polished on a block of sandstone., and fastened onto a handle. The perforation, probably made before the final treatment, was drilled with a stick, sand and water. Since the occurrence of this kind of axe is most frequent in Troy, one may base the dating of this example on a comparison with its counterparts from that area. The type is represented once in Troy I and it is most probable that it was only exceptionally in use in the Mycenean period and later. The main part of the axes with a known find-context was, with a few exceptions, found in the layer of Troy II. This axe is therefore likely to derive from Asia Minor, possibly the area of Troy. Typologically it seems to belong to Troy II or circa 2500-2300 BC. Marie-Louise Winbladh

Name - Acquired from

Békésy, Georg von

Description: <space><space><space><space>During his lifetime, Bekesy collected a large number of
works of art and rare books. Many were lost in World War I,
others in World War II, and some were destroyed or damaged
as a result of a fire in Memorial Hall at Harvard. In spite of all
this, the collection gradually grew larger and more varied. But
the collection was almost as private as was Bekesy's personal
life—few persons were ever privileged to see more than a mere
fragment of it. Now, however, it is in the public domain. In his
last will and testament, Bekesy chose to honor the Nobel
Foundation, which had earlier bestowed such great honor upon
him, with a gift of that which was closest and dearest to him—
the art objects that he had collected over the years and that had
been both a source of inspiration in his work and a source of
solace for a lonely man in times of need of comfort. The Georg
von Bekesy Collection of Art was placed on public exhibition
for the first time, by the Nobel Foundation, on December 9,
1974. His collection of books is now in the Library of the
University of Hawaii. (Ratliff, Floyd, 1976, Georg von Békésy 1899—1972, A Biographical Memoir)
Source - http: collections.smvk.se, collections.smvk.se, libris.kb.se
Source, Wikip. - is desc. by: sv.wikipedia.org

Name - Owner

Nobelstiftelsen

Source - http: collections.smvk.se, collections.smvk.se
Source, Viaf - same as: viaf.org

Keyword

Köpenhamn 2016

Cf Publications

C. W. Blegen, Troy, London 1964, pp. 51, 76-77.

F. Matz, Kreta, Mykene, Troja, Stuttgart 1956, p. 20.

stanbuler Forschungen 4-6, Bamberg 1993-94, pp. 44-45.

M. Ebert, Südrussland im Altertum, Liepzig 1921, p. 67.

Istanb. Forsch., pp. 43-44.

H. Schliemann, Ilios, London 1880, pp. 238, 245.

W. Dörpfeld, Troja und Ilion, Athens 1902, p. 373.

Publications

Virgin, Jan, ed., The Georg von Békésy Collection, Malmö 1974.

Length / Längd

17,5 cm

Thickness / Tjocklek

6,5 cm

Diameter

-hole2,5 cm

Dimensions

L. 17.5 cm, W. 6.3 cm, Ø of shaft-hole 2.5 cm

Loan in - Current

in-1974.0001, Medelhavsmuseet

Condition

Well preserved.

Original register

WestAsia

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BEK 1964.11 :: axe

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