GEMS. 243 The glyptic art must have been introduced into Phoenicia at the time of her first intercourse with Egypt. The text which tells us it was practised in the towns of the Syrian coast only dates from the sixth century, but we possess intaglios of a much earlier date than that. We should ascribe the sardonyx with the name of FIG. 169. Bracelet found in Sardinia. Abibal to the eleventh century (Fig. 165), but in any case we can point to Phoenician seals dating back, at least, to the eighth century. Such, for instance, is the seal picked up by Victor Place, in the foundations of one of the great Khorsabad bulls (Fig. 170). It must have been put there before the building of the palace, perhaps FIG. 170. Seal in transparent agate. 1 some time before ; at any rate it dates from the reign of Sargon. Like the seal of Abibal its general character is Egyptian ; more than half the field is occupied by motives taken from the Nile valley ; a vulture with drooping wings is set between two urxi. 1 From DE LONGPRIER, (Euvres, vol. i. p. 182.
