Turkey

Mzkheta In 2001, the remarkable grave of an elderly woman in her 50s was discovered under the foundations of the Svetitskhoveli Cathedral in Mzkheta, the anc. capital of E Georgia. By her signet ring bearing a portrait, title and name she has been identified as a queen. Bestowed in the grave with her were golden jewellery, cosmetic vessels made of jade and a unique, large silver-gilt pencil case. On its front it shows the 9 Muses in high relief and on its back Homer, Menander and Demosthenes decorate a balcony-like pocket in which the golden ink pot was inserted. The flat body of the case, with silver quill pens inside, can be closed by a golden lid with an inscription worked à jour. The inscription informs us that the object belonged to the kings Ustamos and Eugenios who are otherwise unattested. The burial can be dated roughly to the 3−4 Ct AD, even if some objects are certainly older. Unfortunately the grave has not entered international publication yet. Preliminary information is available at www. magticom.ge/magazine/2002-4/2002-4-7.html.