Fragments of a Vessel with Gold-Leaf Decoration from Alexandria

Fragments of a vessel were found in the fill of a late antique auditorium, part of an educational complex uncovered at the Kom el-Dikka site in Alexandria, Egypt. The extraordinary find comprised 17 small fragments of gold glass bearing a highly decorative pattern, which is formed of various geometrical shapes and arranged in a cruciform motif, accompanied by a fragmentary Greek inscription running below the rim. Most probably, this find represents a wineglass, possibly even a liturgical chalice of Syrian origin, dated to the sixth to seventh century.