The pomegranate was brought to Egypt from western
Asia as a result of the campaigns in Palestine and
Syria of the kings who ruled more than a century
before Tutankhamun. The Egyptians quickly adopted
it, but continued to use its Semitic name (rimmon in
Hebrew). Models of it were produced in
glass,
faience, ivory, and other materials, including
silver, the material of this vase. The upper part is
decorated with bands of petals and the body with
cornflowers and perhaps vine leaves.