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A glass inlay from Meroe
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Russ:
Dear Friends,
I have a few pieces (fragments) of ancient glass of which this is one. What I like about it or find very interesting about it is that it can be dated to a particular royal family of Meroe. I know of no other pieces like this.
Date: Meroitic Period, circa 26 B.C. to 30 A.D.
Material: White glass with alternating red and blue-black crosses
Size: 24.5mm x 4.5mm x 4.5mm
Note: For other examples of glass inlays of this type see:
Dunham, Dows Royal Cemeteries of Kush, Volume IV, Royal Tombs at Meroë and Barkal, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, 1957: Beg. N. 6 (46) pages 110 and 111, No. 21-3-706f and Beg. N. 5 (56) pages 126 and 127, No. 21-12-49b.
The designation Beg. N. stands for the North Cemetery at Meroë (Begrawiyeh). The tomb Beg. N. 6 (46) is that of Queen Amanishakhete (reigned circa 26 – 20 B.C.). This tomb was excavated by Budge who called it the “Pyramid of the Great Queen” and by Ferlini who found the great “Ferlini Treasure” in it. She may be the queen (candake) who Petronius encountered when he raided the area in 23 B.C. The tomb Beg. N. 5. is that of Prince Arikankharer, son of Natakamani (reigned circa 0 to 25 A.D.) and Queen Amanitere (reigned circa25 to 41 A.D.).
For more information on chronologies see Dunham as cited above and Reisner, George A. The Meroitic Kingdom of Ethiopia, a Chronological Outline, the Journal of Egyptian Archaeology, Vol.IX, Parts I and II, April 1923; and others.
Mat:
Thats neat, thanks for sharing!
Russ:
Hi Mat,
Thanks, ancient glass is fascinating
Russ
Russ:
Hi Folks,
For another piece of glass from the tomb of Prince Arikankarer in the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, see:
http://www.mfa.org/collections/object/painted-green-glass-vessel-from-mero-144859
Russ
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