style of the figures represented on them was as superior as the workmanship and quality of the materials; and while citing them, I cannot omit the notice of a vase of elongated form belonging to the late Mr. Salt*, in the manufacture of No. 252. Fig. 1. Bronze vase 24 inches high, used in the temple, in my possession. 2. A larger one in the Berlin Museum. 3, 4, 5. Culinary utensils in the sculptures at Thebes. which, the skill of no ordinary artisan is displayed; and its cover, fitting with so much nicety, that it resembles the effect of a spring, vies with the excellent composition of the metal in claiming our admiration. Another of much larger dimensions, and of a different form, was found by me at Thebes, and is now in the British Museum. It is entirely of bronze, with two large handles fastened on with pins; and though it resembles some of the caldrons in troduced in the paintings representing the Egyptian kitchen, we may doubt from its lightness whether it was used there, or intended as a basin, or for a similar purpose. No. 254. Large bronze vase brought by me from Thebes. Vases, surmounted with a human head, forming the cover, appear to have been frequently used for keeping gold and other precious objects, representations of which are met with in the small side chambers of Medeenet Haboo, the supposed treasury of King Remeses; and it is not improbable, that their being applied to this purpose in early times obtained for them a name derived from the Coptic, vouß "gold," afterwards confounded with Canopus; though this last, when applied to the town, is compounded of Kag youß (kahi noub), "the golden land," or xpuσOV εÒαÇOÇ. Similar vases, with human, as well as other, heads, were also used in the ceremonies of the dead. If Remeses III. was really the same as the wealthy Rhampsinitus of Herodotus, these chambers may have been the very treasury he mentions, where the thieves displayed so much dexterity *; for though his account might lead us to infer that it was at Memphis, we are not obliged to confine the seat of government, and consequently the scene of the story, to the capital of Lower Egypt, even during the reign of his Rhampsinitus; and the historian, who lived almost solely in the vicinity of Memphis and Heliopolis, during his short stay in the country, appears to speak of those cities as if Thebes had always been a place of little consequence, and scarcely worthy of notice. Indeed, it may fairly be doubted if Herodotus ever visited Thebes; though I cannot go so far as some, who question his having been in Egypt, and suppose he derived his information from the works of older writers. *Vide Vol. I. p. 122. Bottles, small vases, and pots, used for holding ointment, or other purposes connected with the toilet, were of alabaster, glass, porcelain, and hard No. 255. Glass bottle. Thebes. stone, as granite, basalt, porphyry, serpentine, or breccia: some were of earthenware *, ivory, bone, and other materials, according to the choice or means of individuals; but in a work of so limited a nature as the present it is impossible to introduce No. 256. Fig. 1. Alabaster vase in my possession, from Thebes. specimens of the numerous forms they present, or to illustrate the various styles of their workmanship: I have therefore only selected those which * Conf. Athen. Deipn. ii. c. 3. "Earthenware vases, which we highly esteem, brought from Coptos." relate more immediately to the present subject, and, if required, shall, at some future period, exa Fig. 1. Alabaster vase, containing sweet-scented ointment, in the Museum of Alnwick Castle. 2. Hieroglyphics on the vase, presenting the name of a queen, 3. The stopper. 4. and 9. Porcelain vases, from the paintings of Thebes. 5. Porcelain cup, in my possession, from Thebes. 6. Vase of ivory, in my possession, containing a dark-coloured ointment; from Thebes. 7. Alabaster vase, with its lid (8), in the Museum of Alnwick Castle. mine the vases of the Egyptians in the minute and detailed manner, which the interesting variety, found in the tombs, or painted on the monuments, deserves. Small boxes, made of wood or ivory, were also numerous, offering, like the vases, a multiplicity of forms; and some, which contained cosmetics of divers kinds, served to deck the dressing table, or a lady's boudoir. They were carved in various ways, |