Very Large Parthian Socketted Standard Spearhead. 2nd-3rd century A.D. A massive Parthian or early Sassanian socketted iron spearhead with a triangular blade, straight shoulders, shallow midrib, probably used as standard tip or command insignia. Cf. Khorasani, M.M., Arms and Armour from Iran. The Bronze Age to the End of the Qajar Period, Tübingen, 2006, pp.246-247, for similar but shorter Parthian spearheads, especially no.297; Colledge, M.A.R., The Parthians, Powys, 1967. 290 grams, 49.5 cm (19 1/2 in.) UK private collection before 2000. UK art market. Property of a London gentleman. If the kontos was the main spear of the Parthian cataphract, and the nezak the one of the Sassanian Saravan cavalryman, other types of shafts with massive point were used for the standards of Arsacid and Sassanid warriors, or as a symbol of command. A similar massive triangular spearhead is visible on the spear of Zeus-Theos in his cult temple at Dura Europos (Colledge, 1967, fig.22). It is therefore possible that our spear represents a command symbol, like the Hasta Summa Imperii of the Romans, worn by a Parthian command group on the battlefield. [No Reserve]