acquired some flat-bottomed cups which
Thothmes III. presented as the reward of valour to one of his generals
named Tahuti. The silver cup is much mutilated, but the golden cup is
intact and elegantly designed (fig. 284). The upright sides are adorned
with a hieroglyphic legend. A central rosette is engraved at the bottom.
Six fish are represented in the act of swimming round the rosette; and
these again are surrounded by a border of lotus-bells united by a curved
line. The five vases of Thmuis, in the Gizeh Museum, are of silver. They
formed part of the treasure of the temple, and had been buried in a hiding-
place, where they remained till our own day. We have no indication of their
probable age; but whether they belong to the Greek or the Theban period,
the workmanship is purely Egyptian. Of one vessel, only the cover is left,
the handle being formed of two flowers upon one stem. The others are
perfect, and are decorated in _repousse_ work with lotus-lilies in bud and
blossom (fig. 285).

[Illustration: Fig. 284.--Golden cup of General Tahuti, Eighteenth
Dynasty.]

[Illustration: Fig. 285.--Silver vase of Thmuis.]

The form is simple and elegant, the ornamentation sober and delicate; the
relief low. One is, however, surrounded by a row of ovoid bosses (fig.
286), which project in high relief, and somewhat alter the shape of the
body of the vase. These are interesting specimens; but they are so few in
number that, were it not for the wall-paintings, we should have but a very
imperfect idea of the skill of the Egyptian goldsmiths.

[Illustration: Fig. 286.--Silver vase of Thmuis.]

[Illustration: Fig. 287.--Ornamental basket in precious metal. From wall-
painting, Twentieth Dynasty.]

[Illustration: Fig. 288.--Crater of precious metal, borne by slaves. Wall-
painting, Eighteenth Dynasty.]

[Illustration: Fig. 289.--Hydria of precious metal. Wall-painting,
Eighteenth Dynasty.]

[Illustration: Fig. 290.--Enamelled cruet. Wall-painting, Eighteenth
Dynasty.]

[Illustration: Fig. 291.--Enamelled cruet. Wall-painting, Eighteenth
Dynasty.]

[Illustration: Fig. 292.--Gold centre-piece of Amenhotep III. Wall-
painting, Eighteenth Dynasty.]

The Pharaohs had not our commercial resources, and could not circulate the
gold and silver tribute-offerings of conquered nations in the form of coin.
When the gods had received their share of the booty, there was no
alternative but to melt the rest down into ingots, fashion it