Two Early Greek Vases from Malta

Extract

The objects shown in Figs. 1 and 2 were all found in a ‘Phoenician’ rock-tomb in a field to the south of Rabato, Malta. ‘The tomb with vaulted ceiling was cut in the side of a hill. It contained cinerary urns with burnt bones, but no signs of bodies interred. Under a clay cup (Fig. lb), a gold medallion was found, on which the winged orb displayed over the half-moon, flanked by two serpents, is gracefully figured in a kind of filigree work. The medallion has a diameter of 25 mm. and weighs 6·3 grms. A similar medallion was found at Carthage (Douïmes) in 1895 and described by Delattre. With this medallion’ (i.e. with the Maltese) ‘a pair of silver bangles and fragments of two rings were found. Fragments of a small Greek vase were also discovered with the débris.’ (Fig. 2.)