Unknown provenance, 6th century
Frieze decorated with a Nilotic scene Inv. No. 7211 Tamarisk wood H: 20 cm, W: 95.5 cm Unknown provenance, 6th century The depiction of Nilotic elements goes back as far as Pharaonic times. A rich variety of animals and plants enliven the riverbanks. This frieze was decoratively set into the walls of architectural structures. It […]
Presumably from Abu Menas, 5th / 6th century
Flask Inv. No. 6717 Clay Presumably from Abu Menas, 5th / 6th century The pilgrimage site of Abu Menas is situated around 46 km southwest of Alexandria. St. Menas was martyred in the time of Emperor Diocletian (284-305). According to legend, his body was carried to the place where Menas is buried today. The sancturary […]
Bawit, Monastery of St. Apollo, 6th / 7th century
Fresco with St. Apollo Inv. No. 12090 Tempera H: 165 cm, W: 335 cm Bawit, Monastery of St. Apollo, 6th / 7th century The monastery of Bawit has become famous for its colourful frescoes. This example shows St. Apollo, the founder of the monastery, in the centre of the wall painting. His name is written […]
Excavation at Zawiet el-‘Arian, 6th-8th century
Ostracon Inv. No. 4746 Limestone Excavation at Zawiet el-‘Arian, 6th-8th century Ostraca are fragmentary pieces of pottery, stone or bone bearing inscriptions or a design. This ostracon shows part of a running horse, its body decorated with motifs and a Coptic word. Ostracon Inv. No. 4382 Limestone Deir el-Bahari, 7th-8th century This limestone ostracon […]
Deir el-Bahari, 7th century
Ostracon Inv. No. 4746 Limestone Excavation at Zawiet el-‘Arian, 6th-8th century Ostraca are fragmentary pieces of pottery, stone or bone bearing inscriptions or a design. This ostracon shows part of a running horse, its body decorated with motifs and a Coptic word. Ostracon Inv. No. 4382 Limestone Deir el-Bahari, 7th-8th century This limestone ostracon […]
The Church of Anba Shenouda, 13th century
Panel with inscription Inv. No. 928 Ivory The Church of Anba Shenouda, 13th century A rare panel of a sanctuary door carved in fine relief with verses from a Psalm in Coptic: “I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the House of the Lord” (Ps 122:1). Containers Inv. Nos. 176, […]
Bought from Ashirof, 6th-8th century
The Copts were famous for their outstanding weaving skills and exported their products to other Mediterranean countries. The textiles were mainly made of plain linen in which the entire surface was decorated with dyed woolen threads. This technique is called tapestry. One of the finest examples was probably used as a curtain and is decorated […]
Jabal al-Taref, near Nag Hammadi, 4th century
Two pages from the Nag Hammadi Library (Codex II) Inv. No. 10544 Papyrus H: 28 cm, W: 15 cm Jabal al-Taref, near Nag Hammadi, 4th century In 1945 a farmer discovered 13 codices (books) near the town of Nag Hammadi in Upper Egypt. They were sealed in a large terracotta jar and wrapped in leather […]
St. Barbara Church, 15th century
Icon with St. Barbara Inv. No. 3451, Painted wood Western style / Italy ? St. Barbara Church, 15th century St. Barbara is among the most popular Christian saints in the East and West. She was locked in a tower by her pagan father, the rich Dioscuros from Nikomedia (today’s Ízmit in Turkey), who was envious […]
Friends of the Coptic Museum”
What We Do & How to Join It has been the trend in recent years to involve the civil society hand in hand with the government in various sectors. Hence, the Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA) encouraged a group of intellectuals to establish a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) under the name of “Friends of the Coptic […]
