 |
|
Home |
|
Large Egyptian Coptic Textile Fragment, ca. 500 A.D. browse these categories for related items... All Items: Egyptian: Coptic: Pre AD 1000: item #336311
SOLD |
|
|
|
Tradition dictates that the Coptic Church in Egypt is based upon the teachings of St. Mark, one of the original disciples who supposedly visited Egypt around 50 A.D. Christianity took hold easily in Egypt, largely as a result of existing Egyptian religious beliefs that meshed well with Christian doctrine (e.g., the resurrection of Osiris and the holy trinity of Osiris, Isis, and Horus). The Coptic Church was more or less exiled from the Western Christian church due to its emphasis on monastic living and especially due to its belief in monophysitism, the notion that Christ's human and divine natures should be considered one inseparable, perfect union, "the nature of the incarnate word." This stood in sharp contrast to the traditional belief that Christ's human self and divine self are distinctive. The Coptic Church thrived in Egypt for centuries, even under Arab rule, as the Prophet's only child-bearing wife was a Copt and pleaded with her husband to show kindness to her people. However, by the end of the 12th Century AD, Egypt had become primarily Muslim. Despite this conversion, the Coptic church still exists today with a large membership in modern Egypt.
This early Coptic textile fragment shows a running figure in a roundel surrounded by stylized, smiling faces and vegetal motifs. AGE: Early Coptic, c. 500 AD CONDITION: Fragmentary as pictured, but nice with some overall color fading. Quite fragile, but it comes framed and ready for display. DIMENSIONS: Fragment is about 7" long |
||