The leopard vessel in its context
Irmgard Hein

The Austrian excavations at Ezbet Helmi, area H/II (palace area) have revealed a large number of interesting ceramic finds. In one context (the filling of a canal, which has its continuation in area H/III) fragments of an unusual vessel with black and red painting was found. On the shoulder panel an extraordinary drawing of a leopard in flying gallop is shown, on the opposite side a running fleeing animal can be reconstructed. The date of this Aegean-like vessel is of high interest for the discussion of the chronological connections between Egypt and the Aegean. It was recently interpreted by S. Manning to belong to the SIP, ignorant of the facts of the archaeological context. The context material of this prominent vessel and some results of its investigation will be presented in this paper.