Miscellaneous

8

(1) A limestone block, 2 ft.5 in. by 1 ft.8 in. by 4 in. Top right-hand corner broken off:

(2) A cylindrical cippus. Ht. 2 ft.3 in. Diam.1 ft.8 in.:

The spelling of reminds us of the modern Greek pronunciation, in which and are identical.

Gold and Silver Ornaments and Engraved Gems

(See Pls.IV,XIII)

On the Mycenean site the finds of gold were small and insignificant; silver was non-existent. Under the heading of gems are two of considerable importance: the sard scarab from tomb 28, and the bull intaglio from tomb 102 (Plate IV, Curium 1 and 4). A Phoenician cylinder (tomb 43) and a flat circular seal of steatite from tomb 32 (now in the Nicosia Museum) are probably importations of later date than that usually accepted for Mycenean antiquities.

The sard scarab is inscribed on the base with a winged disc and a figure of Thoth, ibis-headed, wearing on his head the crescent moon and disc, and the legend nefer met "divine word(s)". In date this scarab appears to be not earlier than the twenty-sixth dynasty (B.C.666-527). There is no evidence that it belongs to a later burial, and it is remarkable and important as a piece of evidence for the late date of the Mycenean civilisation in Cyprus, if a seventh century scarab can be contemporaneous with pottery of the Ialysos type.

The gem from tomb 102 is a steatite intaglio of oval shape, flat at the back, with design of a bull lying down to right; it is of very fine and delicate work and masterly drawing, in the style of the Vaphio cups. The shape of the gem seems to imply a late Mycenean date. The Phoenician cylinder is of black basalt, and on it is incised a Sphinx or Gryphon guarding a sacred tree, much conventionalised. It appears to date about 600 B.C., before which period such objects could hardly have been imported. The gold finds are limited to small beads and similar ornaments, intended for necklaces or for fastening on a dress; specimens were found in tombs