1891-92.] 415 



of the bay, in a depth of twenty fathoms of water. The sponges 

 were plentiful at the spot, and he exhibited a few specimens of 

 them just as they were brought to the surface by the divers, 

 and attached to rocky substances in their natural position. No 

 person was more surprised than the poor Mussulman diver in 

 his unexpected find of this curious vessel at such a depth of 

 water, and entirely apart from any other evidence of civilisation. 

 Its total height is three feet ten inches, and its circumference 

 at its widest part is twenty-two inches. Its shape is extremely 

 graceful, and much more beautiful than either of the two 

 amphorce in this Museum, which are both clumsy compared to 

 it, yet one of them was found in the ruins of Pompeii and the 

 other came from Italy. This leads to the conclusion that the 

 present exhibit is Grecian, and probably of considerable antiquity. 

 The Bay of Ekanjik, where it was found, lies quite in the track 

 of vessels passing between Greece and Rhodes or the Holy Land, 

 or even Ephesus, and it is quite likely that it was thrown over 

 (with other things) to lighten the ship, as St. Paul so graphically 

 describes on a certain memorable occasion ; or it may have been 

 lost in a general shipwreck. The two handles are firmly fixed 

 to the sides, and are grooved by way of ornament. The body 

 is so covered by marine growths that it cannot be ascertained 

 whether the same is ornamented or inscribed. The base tapers 

 to a point in a truly Eastern manner, which rendered a stand 

 necessary for holding the vessel, or else, as was sometimes the 

 case, the base was dropped heavily into the soft ground. The 

 composition is a red clay or terra-cotta finely ground, and differs 

 very little from a modern well-burnt flower- pot. The uses of 

 these amphorae in ancient times were manifold. Being cool, 

 they were principally used for keeping water in, or wine, and in 

 the latter case were covered tightly over with parchment, and 

 a label of the same material attached, upon which was endorsed 

 the full particulars of the contents. It will be observed that 

 the amphora itself is entirely concealed from view by the curious 

 and beautiful marine incrustations which completely cover its 

 surface. These may have been the work of only a few years, 



