Egyptian sculpture

PTOLEMATIC 185

Though statues and temple reliefs of this period are on a lower level than in earlier times, the Ptolemaic artist excelled in small ivory carvings and in coins. The ivory panels for inlay in caskets are often charming in design and execution, though there was no real school of ivoryworking such as must have existed under the Protodynastic and Old Kingdom Pharaohs.

Coins (Pl. LV. 2) were introduced from Greece into Egypt under the Ptolemies, and therefore retain the Greek touch till the end of the dynasty. The heads of the various kings and queens are often extremely fine and are clearly portraits. On the reverse of many of the coins is a finely decorative design of an eagle.