J. H. S. VOL. XXXVI. (1916). PL. IV.
PTOLEMAIC SEAL-IMPRESSIONS. 1:3:5:7:8:9:10 || 11:12:13:15:16:17:18 || 19:25:26:28:29:30:36 37 : 38 : 40 : 41 : 43 : 46 : 47 || 51 : 52 : 53 : 54 : 55 : 57 : 59 || 61 : 62 : 63 : 64 : 65 : 67 : 68 69 : 70 : 72 : 76 : 77 : 79 : 82 || 83 : 88 : S9 : 91 : 92 : 93 : 94 II 95 : 96 : 97 : 98 : 99 : 101 : 104 J. H. S. VOL. XXXVI. (1916). PL. V.
PTOLEMAIC SEAL-IMPRESSIONS. 106 : 113 : 116 : 118 : 120 : 121 : J22 || 125 : 126 : 134 : 135 : 136 : 138 : 139 || 140 : 142 : 143 : 149 : 151 : 152 : 154 160 : 161 : 162 : 163 : 164 : 165 : 166 || 176 : 182 : 183 : 184 : 185 : 186 : 187 || 188 : 189 : 190 : 191 : 192 : 193 : 194 196 : 197 : 198 : 199 : 200 : 202 : 203 || 204 : 208 : 209 : 210 : 211 : 214 : 215 II 216 : 217 : 218 : 219 :221 : 223 : 224 PTOLEMAIC SEAL IMPRESSIONS.
[PLATES IV., V.]
THE seal impressions here described were obtained in 1906 by Mr. C. T. Currelly for the Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto, from a native dealer in Egypt, who stated that they had been found in a large pot at Edfu. This account of their finding is possibly correct. The impressions are on lumps of clay, which have evidently been used for sealing rolls of papyrus : in most cases the back of the clay shows the traces of the papyrus fibres, and nearly all the lumps have longitudinal holes through them, in which calcined remains of papyrus binding can sometimes be discerned. Presumably these impressions are the remains of a collection of rolls similar to those found at Elephantine,1 which were bound round and secured by lumps of clay placed on the binding and sealed with signets: the rolls have been burnt, and thereby the clay was baked and the sealings preserved. As regards the find spot being Edfu, this is to some extent corroborated by the internal evidence of the types, more especially those of the Egyptian class, as will be seen below. There are in' all 330 sealings: of these sixty-eight, showing fifty-six^ different types, bear either hieroglyphic inscriptions or figures of gods or sacred symbols of distinctively Egyptian character. These specimens were described by Miss M. A. Murray in the Zeitschrift fur dgyptische Sprache, xliv. (1907), pp. 62 ff.: the remainder, which are of Greek or Graeco- Egyptian style, are catalogued here. The Egyptian group, though comparatively small, gives valuable evidence with regard to the history of the whole collection. One (No. 11 of Miss Murray's list) bears the cartouches of Ptolemy X. Soter II., and so supplies an approximate date as a starting-point for determining the period of origin. Others (Nos. 2—10) have cartouches of a more unusual character: the names appear to be those of human beings, and therefore should be of kings; but the names are not those of any known kings, and the titles by the cartouches, where legible, are of priests of Isis and
1 See Rubensohn, Elephantine Papyri, pp. in a pot, in the winter of 1905-6: he de- 5 ff. and PL I. Perhaps the find of several scribes it, however, as belonging to the hundred sealings mentioned by Rubensohn in Roman period, which is a difficulty in identi- his note (2) on p. 9 refers to this collection : fication, unless he had not had an opportunity it was reported to him as discovered at Edfu, of examining the sealings. 88 J. G. MILNE Hapi. It seems not impossible that in. the later Ptolemaic period, when the Thebaid was in a state of perpetual unrest, and not infrequently in open rebellion against the central authorities, the heads of some of the . great priestly corporations may have arrogated to themselves the use of the cartouches allowed by custom to gods and kings; and no body would be more likely to do this than the priesthood of Isis at Philae. It need not, however, be argued that the frequency with which mention occurs of priests of Isis; who is definitely described on two sealings (Nos. 21 and 24) as Isis of Abaton and Philae, is a ground for supposing that the whole group beloDgs to Philae rather than to Edfu, since the priests of Philae had extensive interests far down the river, and would be quite likely to be concerned in contracts at Edfu. On the other hand, in support of the reference of the sealings to Edfu, it may be noted that several (Nos. 43—47) show the distinctive hawk-and-harpoon symbol of Edfu; and whereas most other types are represented by a single example each, there are four specimens of 47 and two each of 44, 45, and 46. The nearest parallel to this find is the group of Elephantine papyri already mentioned. The five papyri of Rubensohn's 'Fund I.,' the latest of which is dated in 284-3 B.C., are sealed with lumps of . clay each of which bears several Limpressions; altogether there are thirty-five examples, nearly all from different signets. In ' Fund II.,' dated to 223-2 B.c, there are only three sealings, all single. The other published finds of clay sealings from Egypt have very little in common with this collection : they are the Fayiim examples, probably of the second century A.D., which I described in this Journal in 1906 (pp. 32 ff.), and which seem to have been placed on parcels rather than on papyri, and the Thmuis find of the latter part of the third century A.D., of which an account is given by C. C. Edgar in Annales du Service des Antiquites, viii. pp. 154 ff. In the following list I have grouped the types according to their subjects: the order is—genre (1-14); Greek mythological (15-35); Graeco-Egyptian mythological (36-60); male portraits (61-187); female portraits (188-213) ; grouped portraits (214-224). The sizes of the im- pressions are given in millimetres, and the character of the workmanship of the signets is indicated, so far as possible, by a letter: G. = good, F. = fair, M. = moderate, P. = poor, C. = coarse; but in some cases the impressions are too imperfect or damaged for any definite verdict as to the style of the signets from which they were derived to be reached. A star before a number signifies that the type is not illustrated: the types not so marked will be found arranged in numerical order on the two plates.
1. Horse r. feeding: near foreleg raised. Circular: "Oil. M. *2. Similar. (Convex die.) Circular: "010. F. 3. Dog with forepaw raised and tail in air leaping r. on gazelle fallen r. with head turned back. Circular: 012, C. PTOLEMAIC SEAL IMPRESSIONS 89 *4. Eagle standing 1., wings closed. '018 X '014. M. 5. Similar. 017 x Oil. M. *6. Hawk standing r., wings closed. 018 x 014. M. ? 7. Hawk standing r., with crown of disk and plumes, wavy fillets across field : wings closed. (Convex die.) -010 X 007. F. 8. Owl standing r., head to front, wings closed, on amphora with cover lying r.: below, thunderbolt horizontally. "013 X "011. G. 9. Bee r., wings closed: below, bunch of grapes. "015 x "011. G. ? 10. Griffin seated r., with erect serpent-tail and long wings curled upwards : behind, transversely, cross-headed sceptre. -017 x "012. M. 11. Griffin seated r., with erect tail and short wings curled upwards. 014x011. C. 12. Ear of corn upright, with two leaves at each side. "013 x 010. F. 13. Corinthian helmet r. with (horsehair?) crest and cheek pieces. 014x011. G. •14. Winged thunderbolt. 015x011. G. ? 15. Head of Apollo r., wearing taenia: hair long. "014 x'011. G. 16. Similar: hair in formal curls. "015 X "011. G. 17. Bust of Athene r., wearing crested Corinthian helmet and aegis: hair falling at back of neck. 015x011. M. 18. Similar. 015x011. M. 19. Head of Athene r., wearing crested Corinthian helmet. 014x010. F. *20. Similar. 014x011. P. •21. Similar. Circular: 010. P. •22. Similar. 013 X 009. C. *23. Bust of Athene r., wearing helmet without crest and aegis. 017x013. F. ? •24. Similar. 016 X Oil. M. 25. Bust of Athene to front, wearing crested helmet with snakes' heads round rim, chiton, and aegis: hair falling at sides of neck. 012 x 009. M. 26. Head of Aphrodite (?) r., hair rolled over diadem and knotted at back. Circular: -010. F. *27. Hermes (?) standing to front, wearing chlamys buckled over r. shoulder: r. hand resting on staff, 1. raised (possibly holding some object). " -023 x 021. F. ? 28. Head of Herakles r, bearded, laur. 014 x 010. G. 29. Head of Dionysos r., crowned with ivy: locks of hair falling by neck. 017 x 015. G. ? 30. Similar. 014x011. F. •31. Similar (?) [broken]. -017 x 013. G. ? •32. Bust of Dionysos (?) to front, crowned with ivy (?), wearing chlamys : by 1. shoulder, thyrsos. Circular: "013. M. •33. Two masks of bearded and horned Pan conjoined: lower part formed into a third, youthful, mask. 015 X Oil. F. 90 J. G. MILNE *34. Winged Nike advancing r., wearing long chiton, holding wreath with both hands. -014 X -009. M. ? *35. Similar. 014 x -010. P. ? 36. Bust of Ammon to front, with long horns curling outwards, wearing taenia and disk, himation over 1. shoulder. '014 X "011. F. 37. Sarapis standing 1., wearing himation, r. hand outstretched, 1. resting on sceptre. -015 X -012. M. ? 38. Busts jugate r. of Sarapis, laureate, with small atef-crown (?), and of Isis with diadem and crown of disk and plumes. •017 x 013. M. *39. Busts jugate r. of Sarapis, with taenia and disk, and of Isis, with disk, both draped. -015 X -011. P. 40. Busts jugate r. of Sarapis, with taenia and atef-crown, queen (?) with stephane and, above, star of eight rays, and Isis with wreath of corn and crown of horns, disk, and plumes; all draped. 016 X 012. F. 41. Bust of Isis r., draped and crowned with disk: hair in three plaits: below, crescent upwards, with star at each end. [lOexx.] -014x012. P. **42. Similar, Irat with crown of disk and horns. •012x010. M. 43. Similar, but without crescent and stars. "014 X '011. P. *44. Similar. "010 X 008. P. *45. Similar. -011 X 009. M. 46. Similar. 015 X 012. M. 47. Similar. 015 X 011. P. *48. Similar. 015 X 011. P.? *49. Similar. . 013 X 010. C. *50. Similar: hair bound with taenia. 015x011. C. 51. Similar: mark behind head. -015x011. C. 52. Similar. 014 X 010. P. 53. Isis seated r. on low throne, draped, crowned with disk and horns, suckling infant Harpokrates crowned with skhent: to r., hawk on standard r. -014x011. P. 54. Similar, without hawk: Isis seated on ruodius instead of throne. •015 X 013. M. 55. Isis-Demeter standing r., wearing chiton and peplos, crowned with disk and horns, holding in r. hand two ears of corn and two poppies, in 1. sceptre transversely. (Convex die.) Circular: "014. M. *56. Similar (?). [Head lost.] -019 x 016. M. 57. Bust of Hermanubis r., wearing taenia with lotus-petal in front and chlamys .fastened over r. shoulder. [2 exx.] '013 X'010. F. *58. Bust of Horus r., hawk-headed, crowned with skhent. [Double im- pression.] 012x009. P. 59. Bust of Horus (?) r., wearing taenia with atef-crown, and chlamys fastened over r. shoulder: long lock of hair (?) falling down back of head. 013 x 012. 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X6 ivas 92 J. G. MILNE 94. Male bust r., wearing double crown with uraeus in front and pendant behind, and Egyptian cuirass. -OL6x'O12. F. 95. Male bust to front, head slightly turned to r., wearing helmet with . high crest, plume at each side, and cheek pieces, and decorated round rim with lotus, and cuirass: in front of 1. shoulder, spear obliquely, behind, shield. [4 exx.] Circular: -020. G. 96. Male bust r., wearing broad diadem with lotus-flower in front and chlamys fastened over r. shoulder. 014 x '013. G. 97. Similar, but with star on diadem. D13 x *011. G. 98. Similar, without star: slight beard. [3 exx.] 015 X 012. F. 99. Similar: caduceus behind shoulder. 015x012. F. *100. Similar, without caduceus. 014x011. F. 101. Similar: beard more marked. [2 exx.] '015 x 012. F. *102. Similar (?). 015 x 012. F. ? *103. Similar: beard indistinct. , 014x011. F. ? 104. Similar. 015 x 013. F. ? *105. Similar. 015x012. F. . 106. Similar. 018x015. F. ? •107. Similar. 018 x 015. F. *108. Similar (?). 015 X -012. M. ? *109. Similar (?). 016 x 013. F. ? *110. Similar (?). 015 x 013. F. ? •111. Similar. 015x012. G. ? *112. Similar (?). 017 x 013. M. ? 113. Male bust r., wearing broad diadem, cuirass, and chlamys fastened over r. shoulder: short beard : in field, £ A 016 x 013. G. *114. Similar, without letters. 016 x 013. F. *115. Similar. [2 exx.] 016 x 013. F. 116. Similar. 015x013. F. *117. Similar. 014x011. F. 118. Similar. 013 x 011. F. *119. Similar. 012 x 010." F. 120. Similar. 020x016. F. 121. Similar. 015 x 013. F. 122. Similar. 015 x 012. F. *123. Similar. 011x009. M. ? *124. Similar. 015x012. F. 125. Similar. 012x010. F. ? 126. Male bust r.. wearing double crown with pendant behind, and Egyptian cuirass: slight beard. 018 x 014. F. *127. Male bust r., wearing radiate diadtm and chlamys fastened over r. shoulder: short beard. " 018 X 015. F. ? •128. Similar (?). 014 x "Oil. F. ? *129. Male bust r., wearing broad diadem, cuirass, and chlamys fastened over r. shoulder: short beard. 018x015. F. *130. Similar. 018 x 014. F. ? PTOLEMAIC SEAL IMPRESSIONS 93 *131. Similar. 013x Oil. M. *132. Similar. 012 x 010. M. *133. Similar (?). -012 X "010. P. 134. Male head r., wearing broad diadem and lion's scalp drawn over back of head: short beard. -015 X-013. G. 135. Similar. 020 x 016. F. ? 136. Male bust r., wearing broad diadem, cuirass, and chlamys fastened over r. shoulder: short beard. -015 x 012. F. *137. Similar. "015x012. M. 138. Similar. 017 x 014. F. 139. Similar. -017 x 014. F. 140. Similar. -014 x -Oil. M. *141. Similar. 018 x 015. F. 142. Similar. '015 x -012. M. 143. Similar. 014 x-013. M. *144. Similar. 014x Oil. F. *145. Similar. 014 x 012. F. *146. Similar (?). 015x012. F. ? *147. Similar (?). 014 x 012. F. *148. Similar, with laurel-wreath on diadem. 016x013. G. 149. Similar, without laurel-wreath. 017 x 012. M. *150. Similar. -012x010. F. ? 151. Similar (?). -012 x-010. F. ? 152. Similar (?). -016 x 014. F. ? *153. Similar (?). 011 x 009. M. ? 154. Similar (?). '011 x 009. M. *155. Similar (?). 013 x 012. M. *156. Similar (?), 011 x 009. M. ? •157. Similar. 013 X 011. M. •158. Similar. 010 x 008. M. *159. Similar (?). -010 x "008. M. ? 160. Male head r., wearing broad diadem and lion's scalp drawn over back of head: traces of beard. 020 X 016. G. 161. Male bust r?, wearing radiate (?) diadem and chlamys fastened over r. shoulder. -017x016. G. 162. Male bust r., wearing broad diadem with two ears of corn in front and chlamys fastened over r. shoulder. '017 x '015. F. 163. Male bus.t r., wearing broad diadem, cuirass (?), and chlamys fastened over r. shoulder. -016 X 013. F. 164. Similar. 017 x 014. G. 165. Similar. 014 x 011. M. 166. Similar (?). 015 x 013. M. *167. Similar (?) : traces of beard. -014 x "012. M. C *168. Male bust r., wearing broad diadem and chlamys (?). [2 exx.] -020 x -016. M. >. *169. Similar: chlamys fastened over r. shoulder. "018 x "014. M. 94 J. G. MILNE *17O. Similar. 014x011. M. ? *171. Similar. 012 x 010. F. ? *172. Similar. -018 x 013. P. *173. Similar. -010 x 009. M. ? *174. Similar (?). -012x010. P.? *175. Male bust r., wearing narrow diadem and chlamys (?): caduceus behind shoulder. 014x011. M. 176. Male bust r., wearing kausia and chlamys. '013 x "010. F. *177. Male bust r., wearing diadem and chlamys: short beard. * Oil x 009. M. *178. Male bust r., wearing diadem, cuirass, and chlamys (?). 012 x 009. P. *179. Male bust r., wearing diadem and chlamys (?). [Double impression.] 013 x 010. P. ? *180. Male head r., wearing narrow diadem. [Broken.] 013x012. F. ? *181. Male bust r., wearing diadem (?) and chlamys. '013 X '012. M. 182. Male bust to front, head slightly r., laureate, wearing chlamys fastened over r. shoulder: traces of beard. [3 exx.] •019x016. G. 183. Male bust r., wearing himation: long straight hair. * . 012x009. F. 184. Male bust r., wearing himation: short curly hair, short beard and moustache. [2 exx.] -015 X -012. G. 185. Male head r., wearing narrow diadem. -017 x 013. G. ? 186. Male bust r., wearing chlamys: short beard and moustache. [Broken] 016 X 012. G. ? 187. Male head r. [Broken.] . 013x011. F. ? 188. Female bust r., wearing vulture head-dress and crown of disk and horns, and necklace of three rows of beads. [3 exx.] -018x-015. F. 189. Similar: (necklace obscure). '011 X 009. M. 190. Similar. 013 X 010. M. 191. Female bust r., wearing chiton; hair in knot behind; crowned with corn; sceptre behind shoulder. "020x'017. G. ? 192. Female bust r., wearing chiton, earring, and necklace: hair bound with narrow diadem and fastened in knot behind. 013x011. G. 193. Similar, with broad diadem : (earring and necklace obscure). 012 x 012. F. 194. Similar. -013 x 010. F. *195. Similar, with narrow diadem. "009 X '007. F. ? 196. Similar. 009x008. F. ? 197. Similar. -009 x "007. M. 198. Similar. "008 x -006. M. 199. Similar. -009 x "007. M. ? 200. Female bust r., undraped (?), wearing vulture head-dress and crown of disk and horns. [3 exx.] "015 x '011. F. *201. Similar. 012 x 011. M. ? PTOLEMAIC SEAL IMPRESSIONS 95 202. Similar. -016 x 012. F. 203. Similar: star behind head. [2 exx.] -016x012. F. 204. Female head r., wearing broad diadem and crown of disk and horns flanked by two ears of corn: hair falling at side in three thick curls. -015x011. F. *205. Similar: crown indistinct. 016 X 012. F. ? *206. Similar (?). -015 x -012. F. ? *207. Similar (?). 014 x 011. M. ? 208. Female bust r., wearing chiton, hair wreathed with corn (?) and fastened in knot at back. [2 exx.] 013 x 011. F. 209. Female bust r., wearing chiton, earring, and necklace: behind shoulder, quiver: hair bound with narrow diadem with uraeus in front, and rolled under diadem, with one thick lock at side brought over it. 016x012. F. 210. Female bust r., wearing veil and chiton: hair wreathed with corn (?). 018 x 014. F. ? 211. Similar: behind, downwards, LKAloqb A I- 015x011. G. *212. Female bust r., wearing chiton: hair in twisted plait at back. 013 x OIL F. ? *213. Female bust r., draped. -011 x "008. M, 214. Male bust r., wearing cap of elephant skin and chlamys, with slight whiskers shown, and jugate female bust r., wearing chiton and crown of horns, disk, and plumes. "020 X "016. M. 215. Male head r., wearing cap of elephant skin, and jugate female head r., crowned with corn (?). ;02OxOl7. F. ? 216. Male bust r., wearing lion's skin head-dress knotted round neck and skhent, and jugate female bust r., wearing crown of horns, disk, and plumes. 019 x 016. M. 217. Similar. -020 x 017. F. 218. Male head r., with horn of Ammon, wearing skhent (?), and jugate female head r., wearing crown of horns and disk (?). [2 exx.] -016x012. P. 219. Male bust r., draped, wearing broad diadem, and jugate female bust r., draped, wearing stephane (?). '012 x 012. P. *220. Similar. -013x011. M. ? 221. Similar. [3 exx.] -013 X 011. M. *222. Similar. 014 X Oil. M. 223. Male head r., wearing narrow diadem, and jugate female head r., wear- ing stephane : above each head, star. '014 x 'Oil. F. 224. Three busts jugate r.: male, with horn of Ammon, wearing skhent: female (?), wearing atef-crown (?): and male (?), wearing plumed head-dress. [3 exx.] -020 X "014. M. A review of the types described above shows as the outstanding characteristic of the collection, especially in comparison with the other groups of Egyptian sealings mentioned, the very large proportion of portrait '. azuojq aqq uo sadXq |i!oiSo|oq^ifra put! 'jaAjis JO suoiquuiuiouap aqq uo adjCq OBtSifuoTQ v JO praaq QUIVS aqq 'sraqoisjp'ejqaq aqq^ uo . aqq jo japunoj aqq^ jo p«aq aqq qqiA\ 5piuqs aja^ suioo jo sauas aqq. : joqauio]iq f) T 96 PTOLEMAIC SEAL IMPRESSIONS 97 and it is not till the time of Cleopatra VII. that a portrait recurs. Con- sequently the identification of many of the persons shown on these sealings offers a wide field for conjecture. The different specimens have been grouped, so far as possible, placing together those which bear most resemblance to one another; but it must be remembered that some of the seals are only of moderate workmanship, and in the process of identifi- cation it is necessary to allow for a considerable amount of variation in the representations of any individual. The wide range of modification possible in portraits executed by Alexandrian artists at this period can readily be seen from comparison of even a few Ptolemaic tetradrachms bearing the well- known head of Soter.I. struck in the first century B.C. There can be little doubt that 61 represents Soter I.; although it is in poor condition, it is fairly clear that it agrees closely with the earlier coin-portraits. At first sight, 62 has little in common with it: the head is much more youthful, and has not the strongly marked lower jaw of Soter I. But it has the narrow diadem which is characteristic of the earlier Ptolemies, and there is no known portrait amongst them to whom it could be referred: on the whole I am inclined to think that it is meant for Soter I. 63 resembles Soter I. in the general lines of the pro- file ; and 64, which has a common characteristic with 63 in the unusual type of kausia worn, probably represents him also. There is a third bust—65—with a similar kausia, but the face is very different, and comes nearer to 66 and 67, which show a portrait with prominent eye, heavy chin, and small nose making a slight angle with the forehead: the diadem is radiate, with a lotus-flower in front. Except for the nose-angle, these correspond fairly closely with the coin-portraits of Philadelphiis. The next group comprises 68—75, and gives a series of youthful portraits, with a round head, rather full cheek and chin, and small nose almost in a line with the forehead : they have a narrow diadem, with a lotus-petal in front, and a caduceus behind the shoulder of the bust. Some of the specimens are in poor condition, and can only be placed with hesitation ; but 68 and 72, which are about the best in workman- ship and condition, are sufficiently near to the accepted portraits of Philopator to allow of their ascription to him, and they may carry the rest of the group with them. The five succeeding types—76 to 80—are classed together with some doubt. The portraits are all of a youthful type, with a broad diadem: the head is long, and the nose rather prominent and slightly hooked. 77 and 78 may almost certainly be taken to represent the same individual, and the like may be said of 79 and 80; and each of these pairs has some resemblance to 76, though not to one another, so far as can be asserted in view of the damaged condition of 79 and 80. If they are all intended as portraits of one person, it is difficult to say who this may be: the profile of 76 in particular is more of the Seleucid than of the early Ptolemaic family type, and this suggests that it should belong H.S.—VOL. XXXVI. H 98 J. G. MILNE to one of the descendants of Epiphanes, whose marriage first introduced a Seleucid strain into the. Egyptian royal house. The following series, from 81 to 93, may probably be taken together. The sealings included in it, if they are all portraits of the same in- dividual, represent him at different ages: the common characteristics are a long head, high forehead, hooked nose, rather deep-set eye, and heavy and prominent chin: in the more youthful ones, such as 82, which show •a man in middle life, there are traces of a beard, which are not dis- cernible in older heads, such as 89 or 92. The bust with the Egyptian double crown (94) and the remarkable full-face helmeted bust (95) appear to belong to this group. If the whole of the series belong to- gether, the portrait should be of Euergetes II. or Soter II., as the older heads show a man of an age which was not attained by any other of the later Ptolemies: as will be seen later, another group may be as- cribed to Euergetes II., so that this series may be taken with some probability to represent Soter II., of whom no likeness has previously been identified.2 It is possible that the youthful heads of the preceding group (76—80) should be classed with these; but on the whole I am inclined to think they belong to the group 100—106. v The next four sealings give a head of somewhat similar type, but with a much straighter nose. The workmanship, at any rate of 96 and 97, is too good for them to be taken as portraits representing the same individual as the last group, but spoilt by the want of skill of the en- graver ; neither can they be connected with any probability with the following group. At present they remain a problem. The seven examples 100 to 106 have some family likeness to the group 81—95, but can be distinguished by the shorter head, less aquiline nose, and less prominent chin: the beard also is more marked in some in- stances, notably 101 and 102, though it is entirely absent in 106. The profile is very like that shown on a coin (Svoronos, 1507, PI. LII. 7, 8), which is probably of Euergetes II.: like 106, the coin, which is of year 33 of the reign, has a beardless face: the bearded heads of 101 and 102 would doubtless be later in date.3 The six specimens 107 to 112 are in poor condition and cannot be definitely identified as belonging to any group: they might be connected with any of the last three. With 113 we come to a series showing a portrait quite distinct from any of the preceding, with a round head, prominent nose at a marked angle to the forehead line, rather deep-set eye, low forehead, and short rather straggly beard : usually the bust is represented with a cuirass. It is fairly clear that 113 to 125 are of the same individual, and 126, which 2 The Ny-Carlsberg head (cf. J.H.S. xxxiv. Euergetes II. is too much damaged to be used p. 295, Fig. 2) might very well be a portrait as a guide for identification of his portrait, of the same person as this group. even if it were certain that it is actually 3 The battered head from Athribis pub- meant for him. lished by Petrie (Memphis i. PI. XLV.) as of PTOLEMAIC SEAL IMPRESSIONS 99 is in Egyptian dress, has a very similar profile: the poorly preserved examples 127 to 133 are probably of the same group. A number of other specimens show like general characteristics, though some distinction may be found in the sharper nose and hollower cheek: it is not im- probable that these give a younger portrait. This series includes two— 134 and 135—with the lion's skin head-dress, and the following numbers down to 159: the last eleven are all of inferior workmanship. The portrait given by this group is not at all of the type of any known Ptolemaic one; but it bears a very close • resemblance to that of Antio- chus IX. Cyzicenus as shown on his coins (e.g. B.M.C., PI. XXIV. 7 for the younger and XXV. 5 for the older type). As the reign of Antio- chus IX. was partly contemporary with that of Soter II., there would be no difficulty so far as the date is concerned in accepting the head on these sealings as his; and there might have been a group of Syrians concerned in the transactions to which the documents which originally bore the sealings related who would use the portrait of their king for their signets. But it is very unlikely that Antiochus IX. would be re- presented in Egyptian royal dress, as on 126; and the Ptolemaic and Seleucid houses had intermarried so much in the second century B.C., that it would not be surprising to find a Ptolemy who closely resembled his Seleucid cousins. If the portrait is that of a Ptolemy, and the identification of the heads of Euergetes II. and Soter II. suggested above is granted, the natural candidate for this group would be Alexander I.: as some of the likenesses of Soter II. must belong to the end of his reign, it is to be expected that types from the interpolated reign of Alexander would be found. The identification with Alexander I. is perhaps supported by the occurrence of the lion's skin head-dress on 134 and 135: as the Seleucids who bore the name of Alexander appear on their coins with this head-dress, which does not appear on those of any other members of their house, so the Ptolemaic Alexander may have been re- presented with the same lion's skin which was commonly associated in art with the greatest bearer of the name. There remain a number of royal heads which cannot be placed with any certainty in the preceding groups. The fine portrait 160, with lion's skin head-dress, might conceivably be an idealized head of Alexander the Great. 161 is of Ptolemaic type, and has some affinity with the coin- portraits of Euergetes I., but is heavier in the chin and longer in the head; also it has the broad diadem, which suggests that it is later in date than Jiis reign. The profile of 162 is very distinct, and not at all of the normal Ptolemaic kind; but the head-dress with two ears of corn looks Egyptian. The following specimens down to 181 might be Ptolemaic; but 163 and 164 are the only ones where the portraits are sufficiently marked to give any help in identification, and the last ten are in hopelessly poor condition. There are also a few sealings which appear to bear non-royal portraits. The laureate head 182 does not look Egyptian in treatment, and may be from abroad. 185 may be royal, as it seems to have a narrow diadem; but H 2 100 J. G. MILNE its condition makes this uncertain: it has some resemblance to some of the coin-portraits of Antiochus IV. 183 and 184 presumably belong to the class described in the lists of seals used at Oxyrhynchus as ' philosophers' (e.g. P. Oxy. 492, 21); and the same may apply to the damaged specimens 186 and 187. Amongst the female portraits, the busts 188 to 190, with the Egyptian royal head-dress and the crown of Isis, seem to belong together, and may represent the same individual as 191 to 199, which are of Greek style. The profile is rather angular, with a straight and prominent nose and sharp chin, and suggests Seleucid rather than Ptolemaic blood: the portrait might well be of one of the earlier Cleopatras. The next group comprises 200 to 207, all of which hav.e Egyptian attributes: the first four wear the vulture head-dress and crown of Isis, the others the crown of Isis flanked with ears of corn. 208 may be intended for the same person, but is damaged; 209, which presumably represents a queen as Artemis, and the veiled busts 210 and 211, probably also belong to this group. The profile is of Ptolemaic type, with a short nose almost in line with the forehead, heavy chin, and rather deep-set eye. The s<'ime portrait appears to recur on 214 and 215, where it is associated •with the head of a king who is almost certainly Euergetes II.: in view of this it may be accepted as representing Cleopatra II., and 211, which is dated to year 20, would show her as wife of Philometor: this date- would suit no other amongst the later Ptolemaic queens except Cleopatra Berenice, wife of Alexander I. If this is the portrait of Cleopatra II., it has a close resemblance in profile to that of her father Epiphanes as given on his coins.4 The two remaining female heads,' 212 and 213, are too damaged for identification. The grouped portraits are unfortunately in most cases of inferior work, and so give little help for identification. As already mentioned, 214 and 215 probably represent Euergetes II. and Cleopatra II.; the male head bears an even closer resemblance than the group 100—106 to the coin-portrait of Euergetes II. quoted in connexion with that group. The damaged sealing 216 might belong to the next pair; but the female head on 217, which is also in poor condition, is unlike any of the portraits of queens among the foregoing ones: what remains of the male head seems to resemble 134 and 135, and if these are correctly assigned to Alexander I., the jugate heads would be his with that of Cleopatra Berenice. The next five examples are too poor to be worth much attention ; but 223, which is slightly better, may perhaps be taken for Philadelphus and Arsinoe II.: the male head has the narrow diadem of the earlier Ptolemies, and the portraits, though 4 The Ptolemaic bronze coins which are they were probably struck for about a century sometimes described as having portraits of with identical types, and Svoronos is right in Cleopatra II. or III. (e.g. Svoronos" 1382 and calling the heads on the obverse Isis and 1381) certainly do not represent any queen : Alexandria. PTOLEMAIC SEAL IMPRESSIONS 101 on a small scale and not well executed, bear some resemblance to those on coins. The triad on 224 seems to show two male heads and one female: the further male head has not a royal crown, and may therefore be a prince. The king and queen, so far as can be judged from the rather inferior portraits, might be meant for Euergetes II. and Cleopatra II.; but this is very uncertain. In the discussion of the portraits above I have referred to Ptolemaic and Seleucid types, and for the earlier part of the period covered by the two dynasties there is little risk of confusion between the two. The portraits of the first five Ptolemies are known, and show a fairly strong family likeness in the general shape of the head and profile, though there is sufficient difference between the individuals to make distinction possible: the type is probably Macedonian, as the mothers of the second, third, and fourth kings came from Macedonian houses,5 and Epiphanes, alone amongst the Ptolemaic kings of Egypt, was the offspring of a marriage of brother and sister. On ' the other hand, the Seleucid type is equally marked through the first few generations of the family, beginning with Antiochus I., who bears no likeness to his father: Seleucus I. has the shape of head and profile regarded as Macedonian, and it may be suggested that his descendants derived their very different family type from his wife Apama, and that it is really Iranian. With Ptolemy Epiphanes the intermarriage of the Egyptian and Syrian royal houses began c; and the cross relationship of the next two generations might be expected to produce some approximation of types. Philometor does show an affinity to the Seleucids in his profile: unfortunately the portraits of his successors are quite uncertain, though, if the identifications suggested above are correct, Euergetes II. and Soter II. had a Seleucid nose with a Ptolemaic jaw, while Alexander I. was quite Seleucid in appearance., The only certain portrait amongst the later members of the Ptolemaic house is that of Cleopatra VII., which is not in the least degree of the early Ptolemaic type, and has very little likeness to the Seleucid: it is rather Semitic in appearance. However, as it is quite unknown who was the mother of Cleopatra, or the mother of her father, her racial affinities may be left as an insoluble problem. The condition of many of these sealings makes it impossible to secure any satisfactory reproduction, although Mr. R. C. Murray has spared no pains in the endeavour to get the best results from very difficult material in his photographs: consequently, though it might appear desirable to illustrate all the types, only a selection of rather over half is given in the plates. Complete sets of photographs will be deposited with the Hellenic Society for reference. J. G. MILNE. 5 Berenice, the wife of Euergetes I., had 6 The marriage of Antiochus II. with Bere- some Iranian blood derived from her grand- nice, daughter of Ptolemy Philadelphus, may mother ; but her portrait shows the regular be disregarded so far as any question of effect Ptolemaic type. on racial types is concerned.