Polish Archaeology in the Mediterranean (16.2004(2005))

MARINA EL-ALAMEIN

EGYPT

always maintained the same shape: a bul-
bous body, characteristic short, tubular neck,
horizontally flattened rim and dolphin-
shaped handles forming complete loops
which extend between the upper part of
the shoulders and the rim. Usually the
glass is thick, as befits their purpose. Since
such flasks were carried around from place
to place, stoppers as well as attaching chains
were required. Fragments of two aryballoi:
handles with part of the necks, have been ob-
served among the glass sherds from the site
{Fig. 3:7]. Fairly close parallels are to be
identified among the finds from Karanis,29
Tebtynis, Douch and Ain et-Turba (en-
graved).30 From Egypt we can also quote
examples from Quseir al-Qadim,31 sites on
the route to Myos Hormosf2 and Elephan-
tine.33
In addition, more than 20 fragments of
windowpanes were unearthed. Unfortuna-
tely, the original colors have been obscured
by heavy weathering and no original edges
have been preserved. They were most pro-
bably made by the "cast" technique, but
glass deterioration is such that a sure iden-
tification of the technique is impossible.
Five fragments with original looped and
rounded edges [e.g. Fig. 3:12-13], belong-
ing to the free-blown "crown/bull's eye"

windowpane, were also found. Panes were
noticeably big, with diameters reaching
approximately 22 cm.
A few items, formed by non-blown
technique, included sections of spirally
twisted rods and gaming pieces. Four
monochromatic segments of such rods were
observed in the assemblage {Fig. 3:10]. They
may have been used for stirring and dip-
ping perfumes or applying cosmetics from
tall containers. A few such fragmentary
rods have been noted by the author in the
Polish excavations at Kom el-Dikka and
Tell Atrib. They are also known from
Karanis34 and Quseir al-QadinC5 in Egypt.
Among typical items reported from
many Greco-Roman sites are glass astra-
gali, either colorless or colored. Together
with glass balls, these objects are usually
identified as gaming counters. They may
have seen different use, however, as ring
stones, insets, inlays or toys. The seven such
pieces from Marina {Fig. 3:11] are covered
by black weathering. Three balls were made
of millefiori glass. Unfortunately, the pat-
tern is unclear. Comparable pieces have been
noted at Karanis;36 one is published from
Quseir al-Qadim.37 They have also been
recorded by the author among the glass
finds from Kom el-Dikka.

29 Harden, op. cit., PI. XX:773.
30 M.-D. Nenna, Verres graves d' Egypte du Ier au Ve siecle ap. J.-C., in : D. Foy et M.-D. Nenna (eds), Exchanges et
commerce du verre dans la monde antique (Editions Monique Mergoil : Montagnac 2003), 368.
31 Meyer, op. cit., 31, PI. 10:225-228.
32 Brun, op. cit., 521, Fig. 244:82-84.
33 Rodziewicz, op. cit., PI. 4:56-58, 62-64.
34 Harden, op. cit., PI. XXI: 860-864.
35 Meyer, op. cit., 40, PI. 14:361.
36 Harden, op. cit., PI. XXI:897.
37 Meyer, op. cit., 40, PI. 14:360.

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