DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.49270#0347
260
0. Bates
their nature (figs. 162-166, etc.), but in other instances they are more carefully repre-
sented. Thus the Middle Kingdom example given in fig. 184 was clearly a billet of wood
lashed at its smaller end to the net rope. The floats in fig. 185, of the same period as the
preceding, appear to be a pair of gourds such as are often used to support Egyptian nets
at the present time. The commonest type of Old Kingdom float is more puzzling (figs.
176, 177, 180, 181, etc.). From the representations here given, and from several others
in the tomb of Ti,213 I am of the opinion that these floats were blocks of wood, roughly
conical or pyramidal in shape, fastened apex down to the net rope by cords crossed over
them at right angles (figs. 177, 181) and tied under the net rope (fig. 176). Sometimes
a single cord passed over the top of the float, (fig. 191; not quite correct — see note
under Lepsius in List of Illustrations). Floats of the characteristic Old Kingdom form
survived — at least in the representations — into New Kingdom times (cf. figs. 182, M. K;
166, N. K.). At the present day wooden floats are used in Egypt, but they are commonly
of the tubular form shown in fig. 190.
The manner in which nets were attached to their ropes is illustrated by a number
of actual specimens preserved in different museums. Unhappily, I am only able to cite
in this connection the rather unsatisfactory wood-cut of Wilkinson’s here reproduced
in fig. 160. As nearly as can be made out from this illustration, the net ropes were laced
with strings which caught up the edges of the net itself and bound it to the ropes. In
the Middle Kingdom seine shown in fig. 165 the net appears to have been attached to its
ropes by a thick cord wound round the latter, and run through the meshes on the edge of
the former.
It was remarked above that two kinds of seine are figured in the monuments. In
addition to the common type (figs. 161-163, etc.) already described, another, though
much rarer, form was already in use in the Old Kingdom. This second form of net is
provided in the middle with a deep pocket in which, as the net is drawn, the fish gather
(fig. 173). Seines of this type, measuring about 100 m. in length, are used by the modern
fishermen of the Fayum.214
Nets were sometimes worked from large rafts or boats, as in the case just cited. To
understand that scene (fig. 173), it is necessary to suppose that the fishermen have made
their way slowly across the water paying out their net, after which they have swept a
great half circle with the end of the net in tow. When the bow man could pick up the
other end of the seine, the hauling began. This is the moment the artist has chosen to
represent: the net, only the top line of which is visible, and which is obviously out of
213 Steindorff, op. cit., pl. 115; cf. Ibid., pl. 117.
214 Loat, op. cit., p. xxxvi, fig. 18.
0. Bates
their nature (figs. 162-166, etc.), but in other instances they are more carefully repre-
sented. Thus the Middle Kingdom example given in fig. 184 was clearly a billet of wood
lashed at its smaller end to the net rope. The floats in fig. 185, of the same period as the
preceding, appear to be a pair of gourds such as are often used to support Egyptian nets
at the present time. The commonest type of Old Kingdom float is more puzzling (figs.
176, 177, 180, 181, etc.). From the representations here given, and from several others
in the tomb of Ti,213 I am of the opinion that these floats were blocks of wood, roughly
conical or pyramidal in shape, fastened apex down to the net rope by cords crossed over
them at right angles (figs. 177, 181) and tied under the net rope (fig. 176). Sometimes
a single cord passed over the top of the float, (fig. 191; not quite correct — see note
under Lepsius in List of Illustrations). Floats of the characteristic Old Kingdom form
survived — at least in the representations — into New Kingdom times (cf. figs. 182, M. K;
166, N. K.). At the present day wooden floats are used in Egypt, but they are commonly
of the tubular form shown in fig. 190.
The manner in which nets were attached to their ropes is illustrated by a number
of actual specimens preserved in different museums. Unhappily, I am only able to cite
in this connection the rather unsatisfactory wood-cut of Wilkinson’s here reproduced
in fig. 160. As nearly as can be made out from this illustration, the net ropes were laced
with strings which caught up the edges of the net itself and bound it to the ropes. In
the Middle Kingdom seine shown in fig. 165 the net appears to have been attached to its
ropes by a thick cord wound round the latter, and run through the meshes on the edge of
the former.
It was remarked above that two kinds of seine are figured in the monuments. In
addition to the common type (figs. 161-163, etc.) already described, another, though
much rarer, form was already in use in the Old Kingdom. This second form of net is
provided in the middle with a deep pocket in which, as the net is drawn, the fish gather
(fig. 173). Seines of this type, measuring about 100 m. in length, are used by the modern
fishermen of the Fayum.214
Nets were sometimes worked from large rafts or boats, as in the case just cited. To
understand that scene (fig. 173), it is necessary to suppose that the fishermen have made
their way slowly across the water paying out their net, after which they have swept a
great half circle with the end of the net in tow. When the bow man could pick up the
other end of the seine, the hauling began. This is the moment the artist has chosen to
represent: the net, only the top line of which is visible, and which is obviously out of
213 Steindorff, op. cit., pl. 115; cf. Ibid., pl. 117.
214 Loat, op. cit., p. xxxvi, fig. 18.