PB Greek sling bullet. Thrace. (c. 4th–1st centuries BC)
Sling bullet is with an image of a scorpion on one side and with an inscription ΚΑΛΑ (Κάλα, Kala) on the other, which may be a name.
Cf. M. Manov – N. Torbov 2016, ‘Inscribed Lead Sling Bullets with the Name of Alexander the Great and with Other Names and Symbols Found in Thrace’, Archaeologia Bulgarica 20, no. 23.
Well known are other similar lead sling bullets – practically with alternating symbols – scorpion and bee, as on them invariably is written Κάλα, which is believed to originate from the island of Rhodes. On these sling bullets Κάλα can both be a name – Kalas, probably a military commander, so can not be a name, but a word neuter plural – καλά, which should be translated as ‘nice things’. Of course, the irony here would be obvious. These ‘nice things’ are designed to destroy enemies and to sting like a scorpion or bee, and the message of those with the image of a scorpion can be understood as: “nice things sting like a scorpion.” See, M. Manov – N. Torbov 2016, ‘Inscribed Lead Sling Bullets with the Name of Alexander the Great and with Other Names and Symbols Found in Thrace’, Archaeologia Bulgarica 20, 32.
Weight: 27.13 g.
Diameter: 31.42 mm.