Polish Archaeology in the Mediterranean (16.2004(2005))

ALEXANDRIA

EGYPT

INCISED GLASS

Kom-el-Dikka is among the many sites
where scratch-decorated fragments were ob-
served [Fig. 5}. '° Glass decorated in this
manner is usually attributed to a period
ranging from the 9th to the 10th century.
The stylistic homogeneity of these pieces is
sufficient to justify a conclusion about
their not just generally Egyptian, but
specifically Alexandrian provenance. The
incised technique derives from Roman glass,
but was undoubtedly revived and develop-
ed by Islamic glassmakers. The major in-
novations were in the area of style and
motifs on an entirely new range of colored
glass. Vivid colors, turquoise, purple, amber
and cobalt blue, with finely scratched white
lines created spectacular visual effects. As
far as the form is concerned, there were
three distinct groups: simple beakers,

plates/ bowls and bottles. Fragments from
Alexandria formed a fairly consistent group,
in which geometric designs prevailed over
what appeared to be floral motifs {Fig. 5).
The design repertory is rich and consists of
combinations of lines (horizontal, rectan-
gular, oblique, and zigzag), triangles, trap-
ezoids, circles and semicircles, ovals, squares.
All these diverse elements, usually arranged
in bands, are hatched with short parallel
lines. The surface of the vessels is almost
entirely covered with ornaments. A tendency
to fill any empty space created the horror
vacui effect that is so characteristic of Is-
lamic ornamentation.
In Egypt, datable examples come from
Fustat,31 Raya,32 el-Tur,33 and Tebtynis.34
Quite recently, a corpus of such glass has
been published from Beth Shean.35

ALEMBICS AND LAMPS

Islamic strata on Kom el-Dikka have yield-
ed a considerable amount of specialized ves-
sels associated with pharmacology and
medicine (bloodletting) [Fig. 6: 7-2]. The
alembics or cupping glasses, commonly
found throughout the Islamic world, are
easily recognized because of their charac-
teristic shape: thin-walled cup with a long
straight or curved pipe attached separately
to one side of the vessel. They constitute
part of sets used in alchemy for the distil-

lation of alcohol, perfumes and essential oils.
Specimens were unearthed at Fustat36 and
Tebtynis.37 A fair number of looped stir-
ring glass rods were found along with the
alembics. They were made of the same glass
and carelessly fashioned [Fig. 6: 3-4}. Un-
doubtedly, they were also produced on the
spot and most probably were used together
with the alembics.
Lamps were well represented. The re-
gistered fragments belonged to a type de-

30 R. Kucharczyk, "Incised Glass from Kom el-Dikka", forthcoming; Rodziewicz, op. cit., 346, Fig. 348:11-12.
31 Scanlon and Pinder-Wilson, op. cit., 82-83, Fig. 39:a-b; PI. 39a; Shindo, "Glass", op. cit., 583:21-23.
32 Shindo "Raya", op. cit., 182-184, Fig. 5.
33 Kawatoko, op. cit., 68, PI. 40:8.
34 Foy, op. cit., 477-478, 487, Fig. 6:130.
35 S. Hadad, "Incised glass vessels from the Umayyad and Abbasid- Fatimid periods at Bet Shean, Israel", BASOR 317
(2000), 63-73, with extensive bibliography.
36 Scanlon and Pinder-Wilson, op. cit., 56-59, Fig. 29:a-g; Shindo, "Glass", op. cit., 611:1-3.
37 Foy, op. cit., 478-480, 488, Fig. 7:147.

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