Two Terracotta Incense Burners with ‘Horns’ and Vine Scroll Decoration from Tell Atrib (Egypt)
Journal Title: Études et Travaux (Institut des Cultures Méditerranéennes et Orientales de l’Académie Polonaise des Sciences) - Year 2015, Vol 0, Issue
Abstract
Among terracottas found in Tell Atrib in the Nile Delta by the Polish-Egyptian archaeological mission, there are two incense burners with ‘horns’ and vine scroll decoration. Both objects were made from a double mould. The first one, found in 1989 (TA 89/166), is almost fully preserved; the second one, discovered in 1978 (TA 87/41), is just a small fragment of a similar object. Archaeological context allows to date the artifacts to the Ptolemaic or Roman period. The closest analogies are known from necropoleis in Alexandria, but similar objects are also attested outside Egypt. The soot traces visible on the better preserved specimen (TA 89/166) confirm that it was used for incense burning. The find context suggests that both objects could have been rather intended for domestic cult than for official religious practice or funerary rituals. The form of the burners, and the horn-shaped projections in particular, suggest their connection to the cult of Egyptian gods.
Authors and Affiliations
Rozalia Tybulewicz
Keywords
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