Axe head, Luristan area, Western Persia. Bronze. c. 1200-800 bc. 3-3/8" (8.5 cm) high, 8.25" (20.8 cm) wide. This elegant bronze axe head was likely used as a ceremonial weapon. It has a .75" cylindrical shaft opening and four butt spikes with conical tips, two of which join on the blade into an arrow that follows the upper curve of the axe head on both sides. Mottled green patina, custom base. Ref: See item 17; p. r. s. Moorey, 'Catalogue of the Ancient Persian Bronzes in the Ashmolean Museum', 1971. Ex. private collection, Iowa, ex. Drouot, April 1991, Lot #11, page 5. (Royal Athena, 1979)