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A Glass Fishbeaker from Fezzan

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 March 2015

C. Tagart
C. Tagart*
Affiliation:
Department of Archaeology, University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne
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Abstract

A conch shell fragment from a colourless glass fishbeaker was found during excavations at the Garamantian site of Saniat Gebril in the Wadi el-Agial, Fezzan. Fishbeakers are blown vessels with separately made sea creatures added in rows to the external surface. Complete examples of such vessels come from Rome, Cologne and Trier, with fragments from the Lebanon, Egypt, Italy and ? Spain. A diatretum beaker from southern Hungary is decorated with similar marine creatures. When dated the beakers are ascribed to the fourth century AD. It seems likely that the fishbeaker originated in the eastern Mediterranean area and may be associated with some pagan cults, and Christianity for whom the fish was a popular image. Early Christianity flourished in Antioch and Alexandria, both cities in areas associated with glass making. Egypt is the most likely source for the Fezzan beaker. Not the only Roman luxury glass found in the area, it is however notable that such a sumptious and no doubt expensive vessel should be found in a relatively isolated, and desert part of the Roman world.

Type
Articles
Information
Libyan Studies , Volume 13 , 1982 , pp. 81 - 84
Copyright
Copyright © Society for Libyan Studies 1982

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