the damp surfaces should not touch the dusty
ground. The pyramid times show the great jars reduced to short rough
pots, while a variety of forms of bowls are the most usual types
(P.R.T.; P.D.; P. Desh.)

In the XIIth Dynasty a hard thin drab ware was common, like the modern
_qulleh_ water flasks. Drop-shaped jars with spherical bases are
typical, and scrabbled patterns of incised lines. Large jars of light
brown pottery were made for storing liquids and grain, with narrow necks
which just admit the hand (P.K.).

The XVIIIth Dynasty used a rather softer ware, decorated at first with a
red edge or band around the top, and under Tethmosis (Tahutmes) III.
black and red lines were usual. Under Amenophis III. blue frit paint was
freely used, in lines and bands around vases; it spread to large
surfaces under Amenophis IV., and continued in a poor style into the
Ramesside age. In the latter part of the XVIIIth and the XIXth Dynasties
a thick hard light pottery, with white specks and a polished drab-white
facing, was generally used for all fine purposes. The XIXth and XXth
Dynasties only show a degradation of the types of the XVIIIth; and even
through to the XXVth Dynasty there is no new movement (P.K.; P.I.; P.A.;
P.S.T.).

The XXVIth Dynasty was largely influenced by Greek amphorae imported
with wine and oil. The native pottery is of a very fine paste, smooth
and thin, but poor in forms. Cylindrical cups, and jars with cylindrical
necks and no brim, are typical. The small necks and trivial handles
begin now, and are very common in Ptolemaic times (P.T. ii.).

The great period of Roman pottery is marked by the ribbing on the
outsides. The amphorae began to be ribbed about A.D. 150, and then
ribbing extended to all the forms. The ware is generally rather rough,
thick and brown for the amphorae, thin and red for smaller vessels. At
the Constantine age a new style begins, of hard pink ware, neatly made,
and often with "start-patterns" made by a vibrating tool while the
vessel rotated: this was mainly used for bowls and cups (P.E.). Of the
later pottery of Arab times we have no precise knowledge.

The abbreviations used above refer to the following sources of
information:--

M.D. Morgan, _Dahshur_;
P.A. Petrie, _Tell el Amarna_;
P. Ab. " _Abydos_;
P.D. " _Dendereh_;
P. Desh. " _Deshasheh_;
P.D.P. " _Diospolis Parva_;
P.E. " _Ehnasya_;
P.I. " _Illahun_;
P.K. "