Discover the beauty and special characteristics through a special collection of Coptic Artifacts in Civilization Museum. The National Museum of Egyptian Civilization showcases the evolution of the human civilization in Egypt through a special collection from all the different Egyptian history eras.
As early as the reign of Augustus, Egypt had been linked to Christianity because of the Holy Family’s flight to Egypt when Herod I sought out the child in an attempt to kill him. Later, when Saint Mark the Evangelist came to Alexandria, Christianity spread among the Egyptians despite Roman oppression. Furthermore, Egypt had become the center of Christian monasticism when Saint Antony the Greco arrived.
Due to the name “Coptic” deriving from the ancient Egyptian word “Agbet,” which signifies flood and people of the land, Coptic art developed as pure folk art. It also leaned toward symbolism by incorporating numerous unique and foreign creative aspects from many ancient civilizations.
Typical of Coptic art is flat faces with round eyes and thick dark brows, as well as foliate and geometric motifs on every available material from stones to pottery to wood to ivory and bone to metals like gold and silver. The artist also excelled in icon-painting on wood covered with plaster or linen in which he depicted Christ, the Virgin Mary, and themes from the old annals of the church.
He also painted on wood covered with gold leaf. Egyptian wall paintings produced in plaster layers with their vivid hues, which are among the rarest artistic specimens in the world, were also unique in tapestry technique because of their clashing colors and elaborate embellishments.
In the church, stoles are worn mostly by deacons, and this lovely one is embellished with depictions of several Saints as well as Arabic inscriptions.
the period between the years 1750 and 1800
In ancient Egypt, the textile industry was highly regarded, and this beautiful piece may have been part of an elaborate robe or curtain covered with geometric designs and images from daily life, with a woman’s face prominently shown in the middle.
Artinoe / Linen – Wool / 6th – 7th century A.D.
One of the well-known Coptic motifs, which Muslim painters also enjoyed depicting, is a knight riding his horse as a tiger lurks behind him, maybe one of the hunter’s prey. There are some influences from Sasanian art in the scene.
linen-wool textiles from the 8th to 9th centuries.
The artist embroidered with multiple threads to achieve varied shades of color on this piece, which features the top half of a woman with a diadem over her head and some Sasanian art inspirations.
Linen – Wool-silk / 7th – 8th century A.D.
Thank you Egypt Fun Tours for a most memorable trip. My husband and I and our 12 year old son, Ryan were on a 7Days-6Nights Cairo /Aswan/Luxor tour. Egypt Fun Tours was very flexible in the planning of the trip and in the payment of the deposit. We were concerned
I had an 11 hour layover in Cairo, and it couldn’t have been better spent than with Manal from Egypt Fun Tours. I was able to adjust my tour once we left the airport and Manal had some really great suggestions when I told her what it was I wanted
Wonderful tour with the guide Hamada. I did not feel rushed at all. He explained a lot of facts about the city, the mosque, the water storage room, and also brought me to no-hassle shops. He picked a great place to eat and have Turkish coffee and a cold lemon
Hamada was incredible! So knowledgeable and kind. He had information about every item, street corner, and relic we looked at. Any questions we had, he had answers! He even made sure to give us tips while walking through the crowds so that we would feel more comfortable when being approached
