Origin: Egypt
Circa: 400 AD to 700 AD
Dimensions: 6.75" (17.1cm) high x 6.5" (16.5cm) wide
Catalogue: V1
Collection: Egyptian
Style: Coptic
Medium: Textile
Since earliest antiquity, Egypt was famed for the beauty and quality of its textiles. The art of woven pictures reached its zenith in the Late Classical age. Coptic textiles seem to reflect the changing energy of the period, drawing upon classical precedents, but infusing them with new vigor. In this extraordinary textile the winged figure of Eros, god of love, is within a central tondo, surrounded by eight figures carrying shields, spears and other weapons. These figures appear to be both men and women. Is this a comment on the battle of the sexes, implying that love conquers all? The exact meaning is long since lost in time, but the visual energy of the work remains. - (PF.0352b)

Antiquities
Ancient Egyptian