DOI issue:
Egypt
DOI article:Kucharczyk, Renata: Glass from area F on Kom el-Dikka (Alexandria)
DOI Page / Citation link:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.42093#0072
ALEXANDRIA
EGYPT
MISCELLANEOUS
Somewhat surprising were considerable
quantities of fragments of elongated
monochrome bar-shaped inlays (attested
also in previously excavated material).
These narrow pieces, mostly rectangular in
section, were made of opaque aubergine-
colored glass. The upper surface retains
longitudinal striations [Fig. 6:4—5]· They
were made apparently in a roller mold as
demonstrated by their glossy surface on one
side and dull surface on the other, and by
their rounded edges. Meant to imitate
precious or semi-precious stones, they could
have been inlaid on the edges or sides of
wooden furniture, boxes or other objects
with a flat surface, being glued in place.
They may have also been part of a wall
mosaic from the nearby bath. Most of them
come from contexts assigned to the end of
the 4th-mid 5th century (comparable to
finds from Corinth, see Weinberg 1952:
143-144, no. 106,4th century AD; see also
Stern 1993: 43-46, assemblage of
monochrome fragments of rectangular bar-
shaped inlays dated to the first half of the
1st century AD).
WINDOWPANES
Windowpanes form an important part of
this assemblage. While they are a common
find in the Kom el-Dilcka excavations, this is
the first time that such large fragments of
panes executed by the cylinder-blown
method have been recorded. They are
distinguished by quality light yellowish-
greenish glass, transparent and translucent,
containing numerous big and small,
elongated bubbles which are a feature
characteristic of this particular manufac-
turing process. Rounded indentations on one
side and corresponding bulges on the other,
apparently tooled, are visible on the surface.
The recovered fragments, none of which
preserves an edge (biggest piece 15x13 cm),
came from rectangular or square flat panes of
1.5 mm thickness, glossy on both sides. The
original sizes cannot be established. They
were installed undoubtedly in the large bath
windows where quantities of flat glass were
required. This notable find can now be
added to the growing body of evidence for
4th-5th century flat windowpanes. One
should note fragments of waste material,
including folded windowpanes, recovered
from the dig as they are undisputed proof of
glass-working on the site.
GLASS FROM THE EARLY ROMAN HOUSE
Excavations in the Early Roman house in
Area F revealed only a few pieces of glass.
These include a fragment of toilet sprinkler
flask made of colorless glass. It has a fairly
short cylindrical neck constricted at the
base and a thick, folded “collar-like” rim
widening toward a pear-shaped body
[Fig. 7:4]. A flat, solid base may belong to a
beaker [Fig. 7:3]· Another base of a colorless
bowl with light greenish tinge was found
misshapen, possibly due to the heat of an
intense fire rather than representing
manufacturing waste [Fig. 7:1]. All these
fragments were recovered from a context
associated with 2nd-3rd century AD
pottery.
66
Polish Archaeology in the Mediterranean 19, Reports 2007
EGYPT
MISCELLANEOUS
Somewhat surprising were considerable
quantities of fragments of elongated
monochrome bar-shaped inlays (attested
also in previously excavated material).
These narrow pieces, mostly rectangular in
section, were made of opaque aubergine-
colored glass. The upper surface retains
longitudinal striations [Fig. 6:4—5]· They
were made apparently in a roller mold as
demonstrated by their glossy surface on one
side and dull surface on the other, and by
their rounded edges. Meant to imitate
precious or semi-precious stones, they could
have been inlaid on the edges or sides of
wooden furniture, boxes or other objects
with a flat surface, being glued in place.
They may have also been part of a wall
mosaic from the nearby bath. Most of them
come from contexts assigned to the end of
the 4th-mid 5th century (comparable to
finds from Corinth, see Weinberg 1952:
143-144, no. 106,4th century AD; see also
Stern 1993: 43-46, assemblage of
monochrome fragments of rectangular bar-
shaped inlays dated to the first half of the
1st century AD).
WINDOWPANES
Windowpanes form an important part of
this assemblage. While they are a common
find in the Kom el-Dilcka excavations, this is
the first time that such large fragments of
panes executed by the cylinder-blown
method have been recorded. They are
distinguished by quality light yellowish-
greenish glass, transparent and translucent,
containing numerous big and small,
elongated bubbles which are a feature
characteristic of this particular manufac-
turing process. Rounded indentations on one
side and corresponding bulges on the other,
apparently tooled, are visible on the surface.
The recovered fragments, none of which
preserves an edge (biggest piece 15x13 cm),
came from rectangular or square flat panes of
1.5 mm thickness, glossy on both sides. The
original sizes cannot be established. They
were installed undoubtedly in the large bath
windows where quantities of flat glass were
required. This notable find can now be
added to the growing body of evidence for
4th-5th century flat windowpanes. One
should note fragments of waste material,
including folded windowpanes, recovered
from the dig as they are undisputed proof of
glass-working on the site.
GLASS FROM THE EARLY ROMAN HOUSE
Excavations in the Early Roman house in
Area F revealed only a few pieces of glass.
These include a fragment of toilet sprinkler
flask made of colorless glass. It has a fairly
short cylindrical neck constricted at the
base and a thick, folded “collar-like” rim
widening toward a pear-shaped body
[Fig. 7:4]. A flat, solid base may belong to a
beaker [Fig. 7:3]· Another base of a colorless
bowl with light greenish tinge was found
misshapen, possibly due to the heat of an
intense fire rather than representing
manufacturing waste [Fig. 7:1]. All these
fragments were recovered from a context
associated with 2nd-3rd century AD
pottery.
66
Polish Archaeology in the Mediterranean 19, Reports 2007