WRITING IN MYCENAEAN GREECE

269

was found in the ruins of a house on the Mycenaean acro-
polis part of a stone vessel, including a handle, with four or
five characters cut upon it in a consecutive group, obviously

138, 139. Inscribed Amphora-handle (Mycenae)

from left to right (Figs. 138,139). Both the material — a
black stone flecked with white — and the form are common
to other known Mycenaean vessels.1 Hence the presump-
tion is that the vessel was made in Greece, whereas the
local origin of the Mycenae and Menidi amphorae may be
called in question, inasmuch as the like are found in Egypt
as well.

Concurrently with these finds in Greece, characters of
the same kind were coming to light in Egypt. In 1889—90
Mr. Flinders Petrie excavated two ancient cities
in the Fayum — one of them (now Kahun) dating
from the Twelfth Dynasty (2500 B. c.); the other (now
Gurob) founded by Thothmes III. and ruined under Meren-

1 For a similar handle, compare the bronze bowl figured in 'E<pjju.cpis "Apxaio\o-
7*4, 1888, PI. 9, No. 27.

In Egypt