DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.3720#0132
LEATHER.—ROMS.—SIEVES. 115
been preserved. They are chiefly straps placed across the
breasts of figures; and most of them bear the names of the
later Eemeses,* of Sheshonk (Shishak), and of the Osorkons.
Leather was used by the Egyptians at a very early time; and it
is curious to see that in cutting a piece of hide, whether tanned
or undressed, into strips for making thongs, they practised
" what we term the circular cut," which, as well as our
modern semi-circular knife was used by them more than 3000
years ago.f Their mode of twisting leather thongs was also
ingenious,—four or more being fastened at one end of a tube,
which, being furnished with a swivel, was attached to a strap
round a man's body, who whirled round the tube with the
thongs by means of a heavy weight projecting from it; while
another man held the other end of the thongs, and, to use
a nautical term, "paid them off" carefully to prevent their
becoming entangled during the operation.
But ropes were generally made of flax; and for common
use were of the fibre of the date-tree, which not being liable
to injury from wet was well suited to all purposes connected
with the drawing of water, and was recommended to the
peasant for its cheapness and strength. The flax nets of
Egypt were also famous, and of the finest texture.
Sieves were often made of flax-string, but many of a more
common quality were of thin rushes, and that they were
originally of this simple material is evident from the " sieve "
being represented in the hieroglyphics as composed of rushes.
These were the work of the basket-makers—a numerous
class of people employed in making seats of common chairs,
and the many kinds of baskets used in Egypt, as well as
* They have been found with the name of Amunoph III.
t See also P. A. of Ancient Egyptians, vol. i. p. 377, woodcut 333 ; and
Yol. ii. p. 9i, woodcut 390, fig. c. and i.
12
been preserved. They are chiefly straps placed across the
breasts of figures; and most of them bear the names of the
later Eemeses,* of Sheshonk (Shishak), and of the Osorkons.
Leather was used by the Egyptians at a very early time; and it
is curious to see that in cutting a piece of hide, whether tanned
or undressed, into strips for making thongs, they practised
" what we term the circular cut," which, as well as our
modern semi-circular knife was used by them more than 3000
years ago.f Their mode of twisting leather thongs was also
ingenious,—four or more being fastened at one end of a tube,
which, being furnished with a swivel, was attached to a strap
round a man's body, who whirled round the tube with the
thongs by means of a heavy weight projecting from it; while
another man held the other end of the thongs, and, to use
a nautical term, "paid them off" carefully to prevent their
becoming entangled during the operation.
But ropes were generally made of flax; and for common
use were of the fibre of the date-tree, which not being liable
to injury from wet was well suited to all purposes connected
with the drawing of water, and was recommended to the
peasant for its cheapness and strength. The flax nets of
Egypt were also famous, and of the finest texture.
Sieves were often made of flax-string, but many of a more
common quality were of thin rushes, and that they were
originally of this simple material is evident from the " sieve "
being represented in the hieroglyphics as composed of rushes.
These were the work of the basket-makers—a numerous
class of people employed in making seats of common chairs,
and the many kinds of baskets used in Egypt, as well as
* They have been found with the name of Amunoph III.
t See also P. A. of Ancient Egyptians, vol. i. p. 377, woodcut 333 ; and
Yol. ii. p. 9i, woodcut 390, fig. c. and i.
12