Glass Humbaras Exhibited at the İstanbul / Beşiktaş Naval Museum
Abstract
Throughout history, we encounter a wide variety of military equipment made from materials ranging from ceramics and stone to glass and metal. One such example is glass grenades, which can be simply described as early forms of hand grenades. In historical sources, they are also referred to as kumbara. In addition to those thrown by hand, there are also types launched by mortars. The hand-thrown types are called humbara-i dest, while those fired by mortars are known as humbara-i kebir. The term humbara derives from the Persian word hunpare, meaning “small jar” or “little vessel.” Humbaras were generally made of iron or bronze. These objects, referred to as shells, were used as weapons by filling them with destructive materials.
Although the exact origin of firearms is unknown, it is understood that they became widespread from the Middle Ages onward, with Byzantine “Greek fire” and naphtha-based weapons used in the Islamic world serving as precursors. The use of gunpowder, first developed in China in the 9th century, paved the way for advancements in firearms technology during the 12th and 13th centuries, leading to the emergence of weapons such as grenades and cannons.
Regarding developments in the Ottoman realm, it is suggested that the Ottomans became familiar with firearms from the late 14th century onward and used them intermittently. They adapted to this technology by establishing foundries (Tophane), first in Edirne and later in Istanbul during the reign of Mehmed II. In the time of Süleyman the Magnificent, the Tophane in Istanbul was rebuilt on a larger scale, where not only cannons but also gunpowder, cannonballs, and humbaras were produced. It is reported that glass humbaras were first used in the Siege of Rhodes (1522), launched by mortars. Similar weapons are also believed to have been used during the Cretan Wars.
However, there is a lack of detailed written records concerning the production activities at the Istanbul Tophane in the Early and Classical Ottoman periods, particularly regarding gunpowder manufacture, cannon casting, and humbara production. In contrast, it is known that the revival and increased use of humbaras as a military weapon were largely due to the efforts of Humbaracı Ahmed Pasha of French origin. One of the most significant early written works on this subject is Ümmü’l-Gaza Harp Sanatı ve Aletleri, authored by Bayramoğlu Ali Ağa, who was trained in the corps revitalized by Ahmed Pasha.
Examples of glass humbaras from the Ottoman period that have survived to the present day are housed in the Istanbul Naval Museum (Beşiktaş). Some of these objects have been sent for exhibition to the Beykoz Glass and Crystal Museum and the Mersin Archaeological Museum.
This study aims to introduce and discuss these humbaras, which are noteworthy both as archaeological artifacts and as military objects. These small-sized, thick-walled, narrow-necked, spherical, and undecorated objects were produced using the free-blowing technique. In order to better understand their form, function, and extent of use, detailed archival research and further archaeological evidence are required. The discovery of similar examples in the excavations at Mytilene Castle contributes significantly to our understanding of their usage.
It is known that glass humbaras were first used in the Ottoman period during the Siege of Rhodes (1522), and that hand grenades became widely favored and frequently used by the Janissaries after the late 1560s. However, for the period prior to the 16th century, more early written sources and archaeological data—such as those from Mytilene—are needed to clarify their materials, types, and uses. Therefore, it is necessary to approach the dating of the glass humbaras exhibited in the Naval Museum with caution. Nevertheless, based on archaeological and analogical evidence, it is possible to propose a date range between the 15th and 17th centuries for the examples discussed in this study.
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Thanks
I would like to thank the Istanbul Maritime Museum Directorate for granting the necessary permits for this research, and all the museum staff for their help and support.
İstanbul / Beşiktaş Deniz Müzesi’nde Sergilenen Cam Humbaralar
Abstract
Tarih boyunca seramikten, taşa, camdan metale kadar çok çeşitli malzemelerle yapılmış savaş araç gereçleriyle karşılaşırız. Bunlardan birisi en basit tanımıyla el bombaları diyebileceğimiz cam humbaralardır. Tarihi kaynaklarda kumbara adıyla da karşımıza çıkarlar. Humbaraların el ile atılanlarının yanında havan topu ile atılanları da bulunmaktadır. El ile atılanlarına humbara-i dest, havan topu ile atılanlarına humbara-i kebir adı verilmektedir. Humbara kelimesi köken olarak Farsça olan “hunpare” kelimesinden gelmekte olup, küçük küp, küpçeğiz anlamındadır. Genellikle humbaralar demirden veya tunçtan yapılmışlardır. Gülle olarak isimlendirilen bu objeler, içlerine tahrip maddesi konularak savaş aleti olarak kullanılmışlardır. Ateşli silahların kesin kökeni bilinmemekle birlikte, Orta Çağ’dan itibaren yaygınlaştığı ve Bizans’ın “grejuva ateşi” ile İslam dünyasında kullanılan neft temelli silahların bu sürecin öncüllerini oluşturduğu anlaşılmaktadır. Barutun 9. yüzyılda Çin’de kullanılmaya başlanması, 12 ve 13. yüzyıllarda ateşli silah teknolojisinin gelişmesine zemin hazırlamış; bu süreçte el bombası ve top gibi silahlar ortaya çıkmıştır. Osmanlı sahasındaki gelişmelere bakıldığında; onların 14. yüzyıl sonlarından itibaren ateşli silahlarla tanıştıkları ve zaman zaman kullandıkları görüşüyle karşılaşılmaktadır. Osmanlı döneminde cam humbaraların ilk kez Rodos Kuşatması'nda (1522) kullanıldığı; bunun yanında el humbaralarının 1560 yılların sonrasında yeniçeriler tarafından çok beğenilen ve sıklıkla kullanılan bir silah haline geldiği de bilinmektedir. Fakat 16. yüzyıl öncesinde humbaraların malzeme, çeşit ve kullanımlarına dair kesin bilgiler için daha erken tarihli kaynaklara ve Midilli örneğinde olduğu gibi arkeolojik verilere ihtiyaç vardır. Bu yüzden Deniz Müzesi’nde sergilenen cam humbaraların tarihlendirmesi konusuna temkinli yaklaşmak gereklidir. Bununla birlikte makalede ele alınan cam humbaralar için bir zaman dilimi önermek gerekirse; bu eserleri -arkeolojik ve analojik verilerin ışığında- 15-17. yüzyıllar arasına tarihlemek mümkündür.
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Bu araştırma için gerekli izinleri veren İstanbul Deniz Müzesi Müdürlüğüne, yardım ve destekleri için tüm müze personeline teşekkür ediyorum.
