DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.4222#0054
44
ROYAL TOMBS OF THE 1st DYNASTY.
vase, 230, there is another in the photographs,
pi. viiA. 16.
Pis. lie, d, e. Dolomite Maeble. This ma-
terial varies much, but cannot be confounded
with any other class. It is hard, opaque, white,
with veins : sometimes the veining is of clearer
white, but usually of grey, and sometimes of
quartz almost black. The magnesia of the
dolomite is left on the surface as a powdery
white incrustation, if it has been exposed to
solution by weathering. The forms are much
like those of the volcanic vases. The spout in
No. 265 is also met with in volcanic ash from
other sites. The type No. 281 is a favourite
in the earlier tombs; it is often of a pinky
white colour, and scarcely at all veined. The
form 288 is a plain ring of stone, perhaps an
armlet.
Pis. Hp., g, h, lii., liii., liiiA. Alabaster. This
is the commonest material of all, and is mainly
used for cylinder jars, which are of all sizes up
to nine inches across. The bowls, which are
also very common, are not fully represented
here, as illness during the last week at Abydos
prevented my working over a large quantity.
The fiat saucers, Nos. 295—298, are like what
were found at Hierakonpolis, probably of the
age of Narmer (Hierahon. pi. xxxiv.). The
cylinder jars are divided into those without a
band (336—344), with wavy band (345—355),
with rope band (356—392), and with plain
band (393—398) ; and in each of these classes
the examples are put in historical order. The
wavy band belongs to the earlier part of this
age, and disappears altogether half-way through
the 1st Dynasty. The most important example
of the rope band is the great vase of Narmer,
No. 359. The rope pattern is often made with
wide cuts across the ridge at all periods of this
age. The double band (368, 369) is very
unusual. Some examples are only given in
half view (381—388), to save space ; but paired
thus they give the general effect of the size.
The very narrow forms, 379, 392, belong to the
later time. This type had begun early in the
prehistoric (Diospolis, iii.); it lasted on to the
Vlth Dynasty, widened much to the top with
flat brim (Dios. xxviii.) ; in the Xth Dynasty it
became more cylindrical again (Dios. xxviii.) ;
and in the Xllth Dynasty it again widened
much to the top (Dios. xxix.) ; after which it
seems to have become extinct.
Pis. liiiB., c, d. Coloured Limestone. A
great variety of marbles, limestones, and breccias
are all grouped together here, as being similar
in nature, and none of them numerous enough
to form a separate class. They are more usual
in the later reigns, as soft stone supplanted the
hard igneous rocks that were most used at first.
The forms are not distinctive ; but some unusual
types occur, such as 403-6, 412, 454, and the
old prehistoric form 455, which comes to its end
in this dynasty. The pendant form of this type
differs much from the spheroidal type given in
Nos. 129—131 : so far as I have seen the
examples, both from the royal tombs and else-
where, the pendant form was only made in
breccia, and in a late period ; the spheroidal
form was the earlier, and was preferred always
for the hard rocks.
Pis. liiiE., e. Grey Limestone. There are
some varieties in this class ; the grey and white
saccharine marble, often with green tints ; the
brown-grey limestone taking a soapy polish ;
the grey and white shelly limestone ; the dull
earthy limestone; and soft grey taking a high
polish. The forms are mostly usual types ; but
the little ribbed saucer, 462, is unique ; and the
oval jar with wavy handle, 483, differs from all
other examples.
PL liiiG. Rough Limestone. This class is
always coarse and thick in the forms, the
material being unsuited to the finer work ; and
most of it is of the later period.
41. Beside the vase forms directly drawn
here there were many examples which were so
closely like others already drawn that it was
needless to repeat them. They need, however,
-this,
ROYAL TOMBS OF THE 1st DYNASTY.
vase, 230, there is another in the photographs,
pi. viiA. 16.
Pis. lie, d, e. Dolomite Maeble. This ma-
terial varies much, but cannot be confounded
with any other class. It is hard, opaque, white,
with veins : sometimes the veining is of clearer
white, but usually of grey, and sometimes of
quartz almost black. The magnesia of the
dolomite is left on the surface as a powdery
white incrustation, if it has been exposed to
solution by weathering. The forms are much
like those of the volcanic vases. The spout in
No. 265 is also met with in volcanic ash from
other sites. The type No. 281 is a favourite
in the earlier tombs; it is often of a pinky
white colour, and scarcely at all veined. The
form 288 is a plain ring of stone, perhaps an
armlet.
Pis. Hp., g, h, lii., liii., liiiA. Alabaster. This
is the commonest material of all, and is mainly
used for cylinder jars, which are of all sizes up
to nine inches across. The bowls, which are
also very common, are not fully represented
here, as illness during the last week at Abydos
prevented my working over a large quantity.
The fiat saucers, Nos. 295—298, are like what
were found at Hierakonpolis, probably of the
age of Narmer (Hierahon. pi. xxxiv.). The
cylinder jars are divided into those without a
band (336—344), with wavy band (345—355),
with rope band (356—392), and with plain
band (393—398) ; and in each of these classes
the examples are put in historical order. The
wavy band belongs to the earlier part of this
age, and disappears altogether half-way through
the 1st Dynasty. The most important example
of the rope band is the great vase of Narmer,
No. 359. The rope pattern is often made with
wide cuts across the ridge at all periods of this
age. The double band (368, 369) is very
unusual. Some examples are only given in
half view (381—388), to save space ; but paired
thus they give the general effect of the size.
The very narrow forms, 379, 392, belong to the
later time. This type had begun early in the
prehistoric (Diospolis, iii.); it lasted on to the
Vlth Dynasty, widened much to the top with
flat brim (Dios. xxviii.) ; in the Xth Dynasty it
became more cylindrical again (Dios. xxviii.) ;
and in the Xllth Dynasty it again widened
much to the top (Dios. xxix.) ; after which it
seems to have become extinct.
Pis. liiiB., c, d. Coloured Limestone. A
great variety of marbles, limestones, and breccias
are all grouped together here, as being similar
in nature, and none of them numerous enough
to form a separate class. They are more usual
in the later reigns, as soft stone supplanted the
hard igneous rocks that were most used at first.
The forms are not distinctive ; but some unusual
types occur, such as 403-6, 412, 454, and the
old prehistoric form 455, which comes to its end
in this dynasty. The pendant form of this type
differs much from the spheroidal type given in
Nos. 129—131 : so far as I have seen the
examples, both from the royal tombs and else-
where, the pendant form was only made in
breccia, and in a late period ; the spheroidal
form was the earlier, and was preferred always
for the hard rocks.
Pis. liiiE., e. Grey Limestone. There are
some varieties in this class ; the grey and white
saccharine marble, often with green tints ; the
brown-grey limestone taking a soapy polish ;
the grey and white shelly limestone ; the dull
earthy limestone; and soft grey taking a high
polish. The forms are mostly usual types ; but
the little ribbed saucer, 462, is unique ; and the
oval jar with wavy handle, 483, differs from all
other examples.
PL liiiG. Rough Limestone. This class is
always coarse and thick in the forms, the
material being unsuited to the finer work ; and
most of it is of the later period.
41. Beside the vase forms directly drawn
here there were many examples which were so
closely like others already drawn that it was
needless to repeat them. They need, however,
-this,