Naukratis Volume 1 (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1886 Excerpt: ...17 is the earliest type, belonging to great drab amphora? of the seventh and sixth century, never stamped, but sometimes cut on the handle with owner's marks. Fig. 20 is a later form, and 21 later still, probably. The three at the bottom, 22, 23, and 24, are earlier types than the bulk of the stamped, which are usually of the form 19. Fig. 18 is not stamped. 51. A curious class of handles are the large massive square blocks which stand upon the edge of the upright brim of circular vessels. The form of these vessels must have been almost hemispherical, to judge by the fragments attached to the handles. They are always of roughish brown and red pottery. The earliest type of this handle is a knob inside a vessel, some way below the brim, placed low in order to prevent its breaking out when raising the vessel full of liquid. A small vessel with this knob was found; and with a hole, strange to say, apparently made by the finger, in the middle of the side. A knob also appears on the edge of circular vessels. These knobs were enlarged, raised above the brim somewhat, and had a ridge down the middle in the inner side, to prevent their being broken off so readily. In this form they suggest a bull's head, and several are found developed into that form, more or less elaborately. But the part above the brim continued to be enlarged, and the rib strengthened and narrowed, until suddenly it was seen to be like a head and beard, or capable of being so developed. At once the idea took root, and ever after the head and beard was the regular type. Such we always called in the work at Naukratis "Bacchic handles," and, in default of a better name for such a large class of objects, it may be kept up. The head type was modified in various ways, more or less ornamental: ...