Search
Search Results
Definition
Sumer
Sumer was the southernmost region of ancient Mesopotamia (modern-day Iraq and Kuwait) which is generally considered the cradle of civilization. The name comes from Akkadian, the language of the north of Mesopotamia, and means “land of the...
Image
Detail of Coptic Wool Textile
This colourful fragment of a tabby weave is an example of Coptic art. While linen was the preferred textile of ancient Egypt, wool became increasingly important during the Ptolemaic and Roman periods. By Late Antiquity, woolen garments had...
Image
Coptic Textile of St. Joseph
This Coptic linen textile spun from wool depicts scenes from the life of St. Joseph, including images of a horseman, four warriors, animals, a grapevine, a bird, and a running warrior holding a spear. Egypt, c. 300-700 CE. (Pushkin Museum...
Image
Coptic Script About a Church Dispute
This limestone fragment (ostracon) is written with a Coptic script about the dispute of the church father Kyrill. From Thebes, Egypt. Byzantine Period, 4th to 7th century CE. (The Neues Museum, Berlin, Germany).
Image
Coptic Stela
This sandstone stela was carved with Coptic inscriptions commemorating "Our Brother Thomas The Presbyter". From Egypt. 5th to 7th centuries CE.The Petrie Museum of Egyptian Archaeology, London (with thanks to The Petrie Museum of Egyptian...
Image
Coptic Fruited Medallion Scroll Band
This fruited medallion scroll band was made by the Coptic people of Egypt while under Byzantine occupation (330-641 CE). It is made of wool and linen, and dates from the 7th century CE. (Iris & B. Gerald Cantor Center for Visual Arts at Stanford...
Video
The Donation of Constantine Read Aloud from Text in English
The document known to us as the Donation of Constantine is one of the most famous medieval forgeries. Written at an unknown date and place in the heart of the Dark Ages, for unknown purposes, it was embedded in the Forged Decretals in the...
Image
Book of Exodus
Fragment of the book of Exodus, Text page, Walters Manuscript W.739, fol. 1r This fragment from the Book of Exodus is a bifolium presenting the text of Exodus 21:16-35a on fol. 1 and 23:5b-21a on fol. 2. The missing text in between these...
Image
Tomb of Saint Hripsime in Armenia
This is the tomb of Saint Hripsime at the Saint Hripsime Church in Etchmiadzin (Vagharshapat), Armenia. According to Armenian traditions, Saint Hripsime (d. c. 290 CE) was one of the first Christian martyrs in Armenia. She was of Roman origin...
Image
Child's Tunic from Byzantine Egypt
This child's tunic is made from wool and flax, with figural images decorating the otherwise plain garment. This tunic is an example of Coptic fashion and was created sometime in the 5th or 6th Century CE. Similar garments were worn throughout...