[Illustration: Fig. 58.--Glazed Coffins, from Warka.] The Babylonian glazes resemble the Assyrian, and it may be particularly mentioned that the oxide of tin was employed in making enamel. These glazes are found upon both bricks and vases, and were applied extensively to architectural decoration. At Warka, identified with the ancient Ur of the Chaldees, thousands of coffins made of glazed ware have been exhumed, variously decorated with figures. Of these one specimen is given (Fig. 58). CHAPTER III. JUDÆA. Art Derived from Egypt.--Never Reached any Eminence.--Preference for Metals.--Frequent Allusions in Scripture.--Bought Earthen-ware from Phœnicia and Egypt.--Home Manufacture.--Decoration.--Necessity for Distinguishing between Home and Foreign Wares. [Illustration: Fig. 59.--Earthen-ware Jars and Water-pots.] We now turn westward to Judæa, in order that, before penetrating farther into Asia and to the extreme East, we may glance at a country showing in its ceramic remains unmistakable signs of Egyptian teaching, but exercising in its turn no recognizable influence upon the art which from all sides of it was diffused over Southern Europe. The art never reached any eminence among the Jews. They preferred the richer beauty of the precious metals. Potters did, no doubt, exist among them in considerable numbers, and were acquainted with the different processes of throwing, firing, and glazing; but the formation of such a guild as that of which Scripture speaks is not of itself a proof that the occupation was held in high esteem. The few relics which can be ascribed to a purely Jewish origin might be passed over as immaterial to observers of the progress of the art, were it not that everything pertaining to the land once called that of Promise, and now designated by all Christendom as Holy, possesses an interest altogether independent of its artistic merit. [Illustration: Fig. 60.--Terra-cotta Lamps and Oil Vessels.]