This document is part of the online version of the book Amheida II: A Late Romano-Egyptian House in the Dakhla Oasis / Amheida House B2 by Anna Lucille Boozer, which is available at http://dlib.nyu.edu/awdl/isaw/amheida-ii-house-b2/. It is published as part of the NYU Library's Ancient World Digital Library and in partnership with the Institute for the Study of the Ancient World (ISAW). Further information about ISAW's publication program is available on the ISAW website. Please note that while the base URI of this publication is stable, the exact content available at that address is likely to change over time.
Inside the house, and in the adjoining areas, we found a significant assemblage of glass vessel fragments that form a homogeneous group of domestic finds of everyday use. This assemblage is quite different from the glass vessels recovered to date from the other investigated structures of Amheida.↩#p2109
The diagnostic pieces attest the presence of at least twenty-nine different vessels. They mainly belong to common fine tableware forms of blown glass attested across the Roman Empire from the second half of the first century to the end of the third century.↩#p2110
Open forms largely prevail over closed forms. The most attested categories are goblets and beakers used as drinking vessels, followed by deep bowls, shallow bowls and plates for serving food. Jars, flasks for pouring and for oils and perfumes are also documented.1↩#p2111
All of the glass recovered was colorless, usually showing a greenish tinge and in a few cases a yellowish tinge. An exception to this trend was a small toilet flask in a common poor quality bluish-green color. Most of the recorded fragments are plain, with only a few showing applied trail decorations of the same color as the vases or simple cut decorations. Mosaic glass and a violet color, which seem to be more common in Dakhla than in other parts of Egypt, are absent.2 Likewise, luxury glass, such as painted and elaborate engraved vessels, are not attested.↩#p2112
Common glass tableware used during the third century in Egypt is not well known due to the lack of well-dated excavation contexts of this period, and the recent publications of glass vessels found in the Western oases mainly concern fourth-century vessels or decorated and luxury items.3 Many shapes used during the first and the second century continued to be used during the third century, as documented by finds in some well-dated excavated contexts of eastern desert sites,4 and parallels in Syria5 and in the West.6↩#p2113
The forty-three diagnostic sherds discussed in this paper, recorded and illustrated on Plates 12.1–3, were found inside the house (B2), in the exterior courtyard (C2A), in the street in front of the building (S1), and during the cleaning of a nearby structure (1.1). The non-diagnostic sherds were counted, weighed and discarded; the data have been collected and analyzed.7 Most of the glass fragments found inside B2 derive from occupational layers, often associated with floor levels and related to the second phase of activity of the house. The sherds have mainly been recovered in rooms 7, 5 and 6, rooms intended for domestic activity, where pottery for food preparation and food cooking were also found.8 Other sherds come from rooms 2, 3, and 9. The fragments found in C2A, in the street (S1) and in the structure 1.1 belong to the same shape of vessels attested inside B2, suggesting that all these areas were active during the same period.↩#p2114
The very fragmentary nature of the material found has sometimes made it impossible to determine precisely the forms; only rims, with small portions of walls, and bottoms are preserved. Furthermore, the lack of decorations on the walls makes it difficult to identify types.↩#p2115
The terminology used mainly follows that employed in Harden’s publication of the material found at Karanis by the University of Michigan.9↩#p2116
The typology employed to briefly identify the shapes of the vases follows the types established by Clasina Isings (I)10 and Beat Rütti (AR)11 because of the lack of reliable fixed typology for Egyptian and Middle Eastern glass vessels. It should be emphasized, however, that most of the vessels recovered were produced locally, and Egyptian glass vessels have their own specificity.↩#p2117
In the catalogue of objects the description of fragments proceeds from the top of the vessel to the bottom. The term “bottom” refers to the lowest part of the vessel, interior and exterior, while the term “base” refers only to the underside of the vessel. “Material” describes the outward appearance of the fragments, where weathering and iridescence12 did not prevent observation, including the color and the presence of bubbles and impurities.13↩#p2118
The colors were observed on a white background with natural light and were brought to Harden’s terminology. The colors of glass vessels can change according to the direction of the light and thickness of glass, so rims and bases appear darker than the walls. The glass fabrics are not mentioned, as the chemical composition of the glass has not been determined. There is capacity for further testing in this area in the future.↩#p2119
The thickness, where not specified, is measured on the preserved wall of the fragments, and the diameter refers to maximum diameter of rim or base measured at the point of support of the vessel.↩#p2120
Drawings are shown on 1:2 scale and all the dimensions are in centimeters.↩#p2121
Beakers and Goblets (Pl. 12.1)
Drinking vessels are predominant in the assemblage. They include open vases of cylindrical-conical shape, the heights of which exceed the diameters.↩#p2122
In addition to functioning as drinking vessels, these kinds of vases could also have had different uses, such as playing dice or containers for toiletries, such as pins,14 containers for food and ointments, their mouths closed by bits of cloth, leather, basketry, or leaves.↩#p2123
Five fragments of bottoms (Pl. 1: 6–10), easily recognizable by their thickness and mostly squared bases, belong to indented beakers (form AR 54 / I 32), a popular form with wide distribution in the Mediterranean area and usually considered to be of Eastern origin.15 The form is dated from the second half of the first century to the fourth century.↩#p2124
In Egypt, this form is well attested, always present in early Empire contexts, characterized by a very thick bottom. Parallels to the specimens found in Area 1 occur in Marina el-Alamein, Tebtynis, Bakchias, Karanis, Quseir al-Qadim and in the sites on the route to Myos Hormos, Mons Porphyrites, and Elephantine island.16↩#p2125
Some of the preserved rims probably belong to these indented beakers, but the thin sides are not sufficiently preserved to show indentations and to determine the form securely. All of the rims are thickened and fire-rounded, and the preserved walls are plain. The ones with almost vertical sides (Pl. 12.1:1–2) can be compared to cylindrical beakers (form I 30), while the ones with more or less concave sides (Pl. 12.1:3–5) may be compared to conical beakers (form I 34 or I 106, in the shape of a truncated cone).↩#p2126
It is interesting to note the complete absence of cut-rims, which are predominant in contexts dated to the first and second centuries. Likewise, none of the preserved walls show wheel-cut horizontal grooves.↩#p2127
The specimens with rounded, curving-in rims and slightly concave sides (Pl. 12.1:11–13) are probably from carinated beakers (form I 36b) or chalices (form AR 96 / I 36a), the so-called “carchesium”; the large mouth of others (Pl. 12.1:14–15), with slightly flaring sides, near to the form AR 77, could also be referred to shallow bowls.17↩#p2128
The piriform beakers (Pl. 12.1:16–21), near to the forms AR 98 and 99, another recurrent shape in the Roman Empire, is dated from the second quarter of the second century to the end of the third century.18 Specimens with tubular or coil base, and coils of the same color as the vessels applied trailed on neck and shoulder have been found in Karanis,19 Elephantine island,20 Quseir al-Qadim,21 and in well dated contexts of the eastern desert sites.22↩#p2129
Deep Bowls, Shallow Bowls and Plates (Pl. 12.2)
The second most attested category of vessels is the shallow bowl, which together with the plate, is a very common household item in Roman times. It was used for containing and serving food.↩#p2130
The fragments recovered attest specimens with fire-rounded rims, thickened on the external surface (Pl. 12.2: 8–10), close to the form AR 88.1, which is dated from the second half of the first century to the end of the second. The preserved sides are rounded and plain. The bottoms (Pl. 12.2: 13–15) are quite short with true ring-base and a more-or-less pronounced bulge above the ring. These bases were often attached later to the vessel by post technique.23 Comparable bowls and plates are attested at Karanis,24 Mons Porphyrites,25 Elephantine island;26 similar bottoms occur in Marina el-Alamein,27 Quseir al-Qadim28 and Dura Europos, dated to the Early Imperial Period.29↩#p2131
Two rims (Pl. 12.2: 11–12) belong to molded ware. The small fragments preserved made it difficult to state the correct inclination and the diameter of the vessels, which could also be more sloped. The broad everted rim with ridges on the inner surface and cut lines on the exterior surface can be referred to both shallow bowls and plates. It is close to form AR 25.1, dated from the second half of the first century to the middle of the third century.30 The rim bent out with thickened and rounded end is instead attributable to the form AR 16, which was widespread from the end of the first to the middle of the third century.31 In Egypt these forms are probably attested earlier than in the rest of the ancient world.↩#p2132
The form AR 98.1/ I 85 (Pl. 12.2: 6), to which the specimen with rounded rim and almost vertical sides probably belongs, is mostly widespread in the western provinces from the middle of the second to the end of the third century;32 while the hemispherical bowl (form I 96b) with geometric cut decorations, characteristic of the third century (Pl. 12.2 : 7), was common throughout the Empire. Specimens with ovals and circles from shallow or deep bowls, with round or concave base, are well attested in Egypt.33↩#p2133
Finally the small deep bowls on base ring or pad base (Pl. 12.2: 1–5), near to form AR 79 / I 87, dated from the end of the first to the middle of the third century, have parallels in Marina el-Alamein,34 Karanis,35 and in the Eastern Desert sites.36 Two complete bowls have been found in the necropolis of Douch.37↩#p2134
Jars and Flasks (Pl. 12.3)
Glass jars seem to be uncommon in Egypt.38 This kind of shape is often referred to as beakers or bowls, because it could also have been employed for drinking, or, more frequently, as a container for food or toilet preparations.↩#p2135
The two specimens found in room 5 of B2 (Pl. 12.3: 1–2) have large mouths with thickened fire-rounded rims, probably globular bodies, and coils applied trailed on neck and shoulder. This shape is near form AR 104, which is dated from the end of the first century to the end of the second. A few fragments of small jars, with fire-rounded rims, have been recovered at Mons Porphyrites;39 comparable fragments, with coil applied, have been found in Elephantine and Quseir al-Qadim.40 One plain fragment of small jar was found in Dura Europos.41↩#p2136
Flasks, on the other hand, and especially toilet flasks, are very widespread items throughout the Empire. The smaller ones were used as containers for perfumes, oils, and perhaps for medical substances; the larger ones mainly as tableware, containing wine or other liquid.↩#p2137
The two specimens recovered inside the house (Pl. 12.3: 3, 5), with “collar-like” rims, folded outward, downward and upward, can be referred to Harden’s Class IX AIc. This kind of flask, which generally has a cylindrical neck, constriction at the base, and a piriform body, is a typical Egyptian product. It appears near the end of the first century and seems to be no longer produced in the Late Empire, replaced by the version with folded-in rim.42 The fragment of bottom in clear colorless glass from C2A (Pl. 12.3: 4) possibly belongs to the bigger flask or the same kind of flask, but not enough is preserved to be cataloged with certainty.↩#p2138
The small ball in bluish-green glass (Pl. 12.3: 6) found in room 2 preserves a small portion of the surface that is slightly protruding and fragmentary, suggesting that it has broken away from some larger object. It could be the head of a hairpain, but it is more likely that it could be the top of a rod used for dipping perfume or cosmetics from the flask, since it has the same color and the same diameter as the mouth opening of the smaller flask.43 This kind of rod, termed “stirring rod” (I 79), was found across the Roman Empire; examples from datable contexts seems to be mainly of the first and second century. Most scholars assume that they were used for mixing cosmetics or medicinal preparations, but many other hypotheses have been proposed.44 The majority are twisted, the top terminating in a ring, a loop, or an object, the bottom in a disk or pointed; but there are also plain specimens with rounded tops.45 A plain greenish rod with globular top, very close in dimensions to the one found in B2, has been recovered in the temple area of Soknopaiou Nesos.46 Comparable balls are attested in Houses 1 and 2 in Marina el-Alamein, along with fragments of toilet bottles and a segment of stirring rod.47↩#p2139
Finally, the small looped delphiniform handle, found in the street in front of B2, is doubtless from a small globular flask, an aryballos (AR151 / I 61). These flasks, widespread throughout the Roman Empire from the middle of the first century to the middle of the third century, are also termed “bath flasks” for their associations with bathing oils.48 As they were carried around from place to place, they were commonly hung with ropes or thongs passing through the handles, or through metal rings anchored to the handles. Suspension chains through the handles may also carry stoppers. Several handles in clear colorless glass comparable to our specimen have been recovered in Berenike.49 Many other examples are attested at at Mons Porphyrites and at Elephantine;50 parallels occur in Karanis, and in the sites on the route to Myos Hormos.51↩#p2140
Condition: fragmentary; milky-pitting weathering in places.↩#p2149
Description: fragment of rim with small portion of wall. The rim is slightly flaring, thickened and rounded; the preserved side seems to go downward almost vertically.↩#p2150
Condition: fragmentary; milky weathering and iridescence in places.↩#p2204
Description: fragment of wall and bottom. The preserved side shows part of an indentation; the bottom is thickened, the inner side seems to be slightly convex and the base slightly concave.↩#p2205
Parallels: form AR 54 / I 32. Brun 2003:516, n. 11, 531, fig. 239.↩#p2206
Condition: fragmentary; frosting and milky-pitted weathering all over the surfaces.↩#p2215
Description: two joining fragments of wall and almost complete bottom. The preserved side shows three indentations; the bottom is quite thick and slightly squared, the inner side is almost flat, the base slightly concave without kick.↩#p2216
Parallels: form AR 54 / I 32. Harden 1936:147, n. 396 and pl. XV; Morini 2007:149-150, n. 90; Nenna 2000:22, fig. 5, 23.↩#p2217
Condition: fragmentary; milky weathering and iridescence on the surfaces and on the breaks.↩#p2226
Description: two joining fragments of wall and complete bottom. The preserved side shows four indentations; the bottom is slightly thickened and squared, the inner side is convex and the base concave without kick.↩#p2227
Parallels: form AR 54/ I 32. Compare with Brun 2003:516, n. 10, 531 fig. 239; Harden 1936:145, n. 376, pl. XV, 147, n. 393, pl. XV; Meyer 1992:27–28, n. 161, pl. 8; Rodziewicz 2005:84, n. 44, pl. 3.44.↩#p2228
Condition: fragmentary with cracks; frosting, milky-pitted weathering and iridescence in places.↩#p2237
Description: fragment of wall and bottom. The preserved side shows an indentation; the bottom is quite thick, the inner side is almost flat, the base slightly concave without kick.↩#p2238
Parallels: form AR 54/ I 32. Compare with Bailey 2007:250, n. 86, fig. 8.10; Meyer 1992:27-28, n. 163, pl. 8.↩#p2239
Condition: fragmentary; frosting and milky-pitted weathering all over the surfaces.↩#p2248
Description: fragment of wall and bottom. The preserved side shows two indentations; the bottom is thick, the inside is almost flat, the base concave.↩#p2249
Parallels: form AR 54/ I 32. Compare with Meyer 1992:27-28, n. 157, pl. 8; Rodziewicz 2005:84, n. 47, pl. 3.47.↩#p2250
Condition: fragmentary with small cracks on the rim; no weathering↩#p2314
Description: fragment of rim, neck and shoulder. The rim is rounded and curving in, slightly flaring from a constriction at neck; the sides widen out gradually to greatest diameter. The neck is marked by a horizontal coil of the same color as the vase.↩#p2315
Parallels: Harden 1936:143, n. 365, pls. IV, XV. Compare with Brun 2003:516–517, n. 15, 532, fig. 240; Meyer 1992:24–25, n. 93, pl. 5; Nenna 2000:22, fig. 5, 23.↩#p2316
Material: colorless glass with greenish tinge; few very small globular bubbles; few medium, rare big elongated bubbles on the rim; few very small globular dark impurities.↩#p2320
Condition: fragmentary; milky weathering on the surfaces and on the breaks.↩#p2325
Description: fragment of rim, neck and shoulder. The rim is rounded and thickened, slightly curving in, bent out from a constriction at neck; the sides widen out gradually to greatest diameter. Three horizontal coils of thin spiral, of the same color as the vessel, are applied thread on the shoulder.↩#p2326
Parallels: Compare with Brun 2003:516–517, n. 13–15, 531–532; figs. 239–240; Meyer 1992:24–25, n. 93, pl. 5.↩#p2327
Condition: fragmentary; milky weathering and iridescence in places.↩#p2336
Description: fragment of wall and complete bottom with tubular base ring. The preserved side is rounded; the inside of the bottom is convex, the base concave with kick.↩#p2337
Parallels: Brun 2003:516–517, n. 22, 532, fig. 240; Harden 1936:143, n. 365, pls. IV, XV; Rodziewicz 2005:84, n. 41, pl. 3.41.↩#p2338
Condition: fragmentary; milky weathering on the surfaces and on the breaks.↩#p2347
Description: fragment of wall and complete bottom with coil base. The preserved side is rounded; the inside of the bottom is slightly convex, the base slightly concave without kick.↩#p2348
Parallels: Brun 2003:516–517, n. 20, 532, fig. 240; Rodziewicz 2005:84, n. 38, pl. 3.38.↩#p2349
Catalogue Number: 12.20 Figure Number: pl. 12.1.20↩#p2350
Condition: fragmentary; milky-pitted weathering and frosting on the surfaces and on the breaks.↩#p2358
Description: fragment of rim, neck and shoulder. The rim is flaring, rounded and thickened on the external surface, slightly curving in; the sides widen out gradually to greatest diameter. The neck is decorated by a coil of the same color as the vessel.↩#p2359
Parallels: (form AR 99). Compare with Brun 2003:516–517, n.19, 532, fig. 240.↩#p2360
Condition: fragmentary; milky weathering and iridescence in places.↩#p2380
Description: fragment of rim and wall. The rim is outsplayed, rounded and slightly thickened; the preserved side is rounded.↩#p2381
Parallels: form AR 79 / I 87. Compare with Dunand, et al. 1992:47–48, 241–242, pl. 68.1 (T 19, Inv. 962); Hayes 1975:158, n. 652, 21, fig. 21; Nenna 2003a:96, fig. 4.1.↩#p2382
Condition: fragmentary; milky weathering on the surface and on the breaks.↩#p2391
Description: fragment of rim and wall. The rim is slightly curving out, rounded and slightly thickened; the side slopes downward slightly convex.↩#p2392
Parallels: form AR 79/I 87. Brun 2001:385, 386, fig. 9.2; Dunand, et al. 1992:47–48, 241–242 and pl. 68.2 (T 19, Inv. 961); Harden 1936:117, n. 304, pls. III, XIV; Rodziewicz 2005:90, n. 117, pl. 6.↩#p2393
Condition: fragmentary; milky weathering and iridescence in places.↩#p2413
Description: two joining fragments of wall and bottom with pad base. The preserved side is rounded; the bottom is slightly concave on the inner side with a pronounced bulge above the ring; the base is slightly convex and the foot is outsplayed.↩#p2414
Parallels: Hayes 1975:144 n. 609, 183, fig. 18; Kucharczyk 2005:96, 97, fig 2:4–5; Compare with Dunand, et al. 1992:47-48, 241-242 and pl. 68.1 (T 19, Inv. 962).↩#p2415
Description: fragment of rim and wall. The rim is slightly flaring, thickened and rounded; the side goes downward almost vertically.↩#p2436
Parallels: form AR 98.1/ I 85. Bailey 2007:253, n. 104, fig. 8.13. Compare with Clairmont 1963:103, n. 474, pl. XI; Prikhodkine 2005:60, fig. 4.i, 61.↩#p2437
Condition: fragmentary; frosting and milky-pitting weathering on the surface and on the breaks.↩#p2446
Description: fragment of rim and wall. The rim is cut off and polished; the side constricts below the rim and from there bulges with hemispherical form. Near the rim and just below the constriction are two pairs of parallel wheel cut lines; below these two incomplete oval cut facets are preserved.↩#p2447
Parallels: form I 96b. Compare with Arveiller-Dulong and Nenna 2005:370, n. 977, pl. 78; Brun 2003:517, n. 38, 533, fig. 241; Clairmont 1963:62, n. 241, pl. VII; Harden 1936:90, n. 205, pl. XIII (shallow bowl), 120, n. 316, pl. XIV (deep bowl); Sternini 1999:88–89, 90, fig. 2.6–8.↩#p2448
Description: fragment of rim and wall. The rim is rounded and thickened on the external surface; the side is rounded.↩#p2469
Parallels: near form AR 88.1. Bailey 2007:254, n. 111, fig. 8.14. Compare with Arveiller-Dulong and Nenna 2005:370, n.976, pl. 78 (with incised decorations); Harden 1936:77, n. 123, pl. XII; Rodziewicz 2005:82, n. 18, pl. 2.↩#p2470
Material: colorless glass with greenish tinge; few small globular and elongated bubbles; few fine and medium elongated dark impurities on the rim.↩#p2474
Condition: fragmentary with cracks; milky-pitted weathering on all the surfaces, iridescence in places.↩#p2490
Description: fragment of rim and little portion of wall. The broad rim is everted and squared at the end: on the inner surface are two parallel ridges, one of which is near the junction with the side; on the external surface two parallel horizontal cut lines.↩#p2491
Parallels: form AR 25.1. Compare with Clairmont 1963:21, n. 72, pl. II; Harden 1936:61, n. 74, pl. XI; Meyer 1992:20, n. 57, pl. 3.↩#p2492
Condition: fragmentary; enamel like weathering , iridescence in places.↩#p2501
Description: fragment of rim. The rim is outsplayed with a sharp change of inclination, thickened and rounded at the end on the external surface.↩#p2502
Parallels: near form AR 16. Compare with Brun 2003:518, n. 50, 534, fig. 242; Harden 1936:83, n. 166, pl. XII; Roth 1979:146, pl. 53:a.↩#p2503
Catalogue Number: 12.34 Figure Number: pl. 12.2.13↩#p2504
Technology: blown glass; post technique (?)↩#p2511
Condition: fragmentary; milky weathering in places on the surfaces and on the breaks, iridescence especially on the inner surface.↩#p2512
Description: fragment of bottom with true footing. The bottom seems to be flat on the inner side with a pronounced bulge above the base ring; the base is slightly concave. The ring is quite thick, short and gently flaring.↩#p2513
Parallels: Compare with Clairmont 1963:22, n. 75, pl. II; Meyer 1992:25 n. 115, pl. 6.↩#p2514
Technology: blown glass; post technique (?)↩#p2522
Condition: fragmentary; milky-pitted weathering on all the surfaces.↩#p2523
Description: two joining fragments of wall and bottom with true ring base. The side is rounded; the bottom seems to be flat with a light bulge above the base ring; the ring is almost vertical.↩#p2524
Parallels: compare with Clairmont 1963:20, n. 59, pl. I; Harden 1936:77, n. 123, pl. XII; Kucharczyk 2005:96, 97, fig. 2.3.↩#p2525
Technology: blown glass; post technique (?)↩#p2533
Condition: fragmentary, milky weathering and iridescence in places.↩#p2534
Description: fragment of bottom with true ring base. The bottom has a light bulge above the base ring; the ring is short, thickened and gently flaring.↩#p2535
Parallels: Clairmont 1963:22, n. 75, pl. II; Harden 1936:83, n. 166, pl. XII.↩#p2536
Condition: fragmentary; milky-pitting weathering on the surfaces and on the breaks, iridescence in places.↩#p2545
Description: fragment of rim and shoulder. The rim is thickened and rounded, slightly flaring from a constriction at neck; the preserved side is rounded. One horizontal coil of thin spiral, of the same color as the vessel, is applied thread just below the constriction.↩#p2546
Parallels: near form AR 104. Clairmont 1963:106, n. 480, pl. XI; Meyer 1992:31, n. 224, pl. 10; Rodziewicz 2005:90, n. 119, pl. 6.↩#p2547
Description: fragment of rim and shoulder. The rim is thickened and rounded, slightly flaring from a constriction at neck; the preserved side seems to bulge with globular form. Three coils of thin spiral, of the same color as the vessel, are applied thread on body, one oblique on the constriction, two horizontal and parallel on the shoulder.↩#p2557
Parallels: near form AR 104. Rodziewicz 2005:90, n. 119, pl. 6.↩#p2558
Condition: fragmentary; milky weathering in places.↩#p2600
Description: Plain ball. A small portion of the surface is slightly protruding and fragmentary. It could be the head of a hairpin or the top of a stirring rod.↩#p2601
Parallels: Compare to Beretta and Di Pasquale 2004:332, n. 4.63. Kucharczyk 2010: 126, fig. 8.5, 127, fig. 9.2.↩#p2602
Condition: fragmentary; milky weathering in places.↩#p2611
Description: fragment of neck and shoulder of a small globular flask with looped delphiniform handle. The handle has been attached to the vessel, pulled up and then turned on itself to leave a circular opening.↩#p2612
Parallels: Arveiller-Dulong and Nenna 2005:446, n. 1252; Harden 1936:259–260, n. 767, n. 773, pl. XX; Nicholson 2000:203, 204, fig. 8-2.↩#p2613
Plate 12.1: Glass beakers and goblets.Plate 12.2: Glass deep bowls, shallow bowls, and plates.Plate 12.3: Glass jars and flasks.
Notes
1 Many of the vessels served a variety of purposes. The functional classification is simply a reasonable assumption.
2 Many of the fragments recovered in House B1 (Area 2), a fourth-century dwelling which has returned a great quantity of glass vessel, show a variety of shades of violet color. Base rings decorated with incised criss-cross designs, mainly belonging to the deep bowls typical of the fourth century, are quite frequent. Likewise conical lamps and vases with blue drops applied, or trailed decorations such as spiral and zigzag in turquoise and blue glass, recur.
3 Marchini 1999, Hill and Nenna 2003a, Nenna 2003b, Nenna 2003, Hope and Whitehouse 2004.
5 Clairmont 1963. The finds from Dura Europos give a picture of the forms in use during the middle of the third century and the destruction of the site in 256 CE fixes a terminus ante quem.
6 For some parallels in the west see Foy and Nenna 2003 with quoted bibliography.
7 The quantitative data can be found in the project database.
12 Iridescence is the rainbowlike effect that changes according to the angle from which it is viewed or the angle of incidence of the source of light. On ancient glass iridescence is caused by interference effects of light reflected from several layers of weathering products. Cf. Whitehouse 2006:46.
16 In Marina el-Alamein the specimens occur among glass vessels dated from the first century to the third century, with a concentration in the first and second century (Kucharczyk 2005:94-95); in Tebtynis they are dated from the end of the first century to the end of the second century (Nenna 2000:23); in Karanis the vessels have been found in houses mainly dated from the second to the third century (Harden 1936:145-148; for the dating of the vessels from Karanis, see also Whitehouse 1999 with quoted bibliography); in Krokodilô, Bi’r al-Hammâmat and Maximianon the form is well documented in the middle of the second century (Brun 2003:516, 523); in Mons Porphyrites bases and body fragments are very common in contexts dates from the middle of the first century to the early third century (Bailey 2007:234-235, 249); in Elephantine island the contexts of recovery are dated to the first two centuries CE (Rodziewicz 2005:25-28).
17 See the small plain cups and bowls with thickened fire-rounded rims found at Mons Porphyrites (Bailey 2007:252-253).
30 The rim has parallels in Karanis (Harden 1936:61), Quseir al-Qadim (Meyer 1992:20), Dura Europos (Clairmont 1963:19-24).
31 The rim finds parallels in Karanis (a shallow bowl with ring base very close to the bases found in B2, cf. Harden 1936:83, n. 166); in Quseir al-Qadim (Roth 1979:146); in Krokodilô and Maximianon (Brun 2003:518).
32 Compare with small plain cups and bowls with thickened fire-rounded rims recovered at Mons Porphyrites (Bailey 2007:252-253).
33 Karanis (Harden 1936:90-92, 119-121); Medinet Madi (Silvano 2009:224-225); Didymoi (Brun 2001:385); Maximianon (Brun 2003:517); Mons Porphyrites (Bailey 2007: 239-241). Many wall fragments with cut ovals and circles have been found at Quseir al-Qadim (Meyer 1992:38). Parallels occur also in Syria (Clairmont 1963:60-64, Arveiller-Dulong and Nenna 2005:370) and in Carthage (Sternini 1999:88-89).
36 Krokodilô and Maximianon (Brun 2003:518) and third century contexts in Didymoi (Brun 2001:385), Elephantine island (Rodziewicz 2005:90, 96). Comparable specimens occur also in Syria (Hayes 1975:144, 158, Clairmont 1963:25).
37 Dunand, Castel, Wagner and Barakat 1992:47-48, 241-242 and pl. 68.1-2. See also Nenna 2003a:96.
