Fig. 172.—Woman Spinning (No. 422). Ht. of Vase 4½ in.
Two bronze spindles (No. 423) are seen in the Case and are illustrated on either side of fig. 173. In the same figure are shown four ivory whorls from spindles (No. 424).
Fig. 173.—Spindles and Whorls, Shuttle and Loomweight. 2:5.
Fig. 174.—Woman with Epinetron on Knee.
Before the wool was placed upon the distaff it appears to have been rubbed, with a view to the separation of the fibres, upon an instrument known as the epinetron or onos. This was semi-cylindrical in form and was placed upon the knee. Several examples in terracotta had long been known, and were explained with little plausibility as covering-tiles. One, however, was found with a painted design which first gave the clue to its real use (Fig. 174). One of these epinetra B 96 (No. 425) is exhibited in this Case, together with a fragment of a second. Other examples are to be seen in the Second Vase Room (Cases 24 and 25), and one of these is illustrated here (No. 426; fig. 175). A miniature example was found with the girl doll seated in a chair, exhibited in Table-Case J with the other dolls (p. [195], fig. 234, below).
Fig. 175.—Epinetron or Spinning Instrument (No. 426). L. 14½ in.
