Coptic Textile Fragment with Image of a Goddess

On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 451

The use of gold in the depiction of the female head on this fragment may be an allusion to the moon, or to moonlight. The crescent-shaped ornament in the woman’s hair identifies the image as a personification of Luna, the moon, or Diana, goddess of hunting and the chase. In classical mythology, Diana also presides over childbirth and protects the young. Such images were widely used on textiles, wall paintings, and mosaics throughout the Late Antique world. While large textile fragments like this one were discovered as burial wrappings, they probably originally belonged in a domestic setting and their exact use remains uncertain.

Coptic Textile Fragment with Image of a Goddess, Linen, wool; plain weave, weft-loop pile

This image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

Open Access

As part of the Met's Open Access policy, you can freely copy, modify and distribute this image, even for commercial purposes.

API

Public domain data for this object can also be accessed using the Met's Open Access API.

Coptic Textile Fragment with Image of a Goddess, Linen, wool; plain weave, weft-loop pile
Coptic Textile Fragment with Image of a Goddess, Linen, wool; plain weave, weft-loop pile
Coptic Textile Fragment with Image of a Goddess, Linen, wool; plain weave, weft-loop pile
Coptic Textile Fragment with Image of a Goddess, Linen, wool; plain weave, weft-loop pile
Coptic Textile Fragment with Image of a Goddess, Linen, wool; plain weave, weft-loop pile
Coptic Textile Fragment with Image of a Goddess, Linen, wool; plain weave, weft-loop pile
Coptic Textile Fragment with Image of a Goddess, Linen, wool; plain weave, weft-loop pile
Coptic Textile Fragment with Image of a Goddess, Linen, wool; plain weave, weft-loop pile
Coptic Textile Fragment with Image of a Goddess, Linen, wool; plain weave, weft-loop pile
Coptic Textile Fragment with Image of a Goddess, Linen, wool; plain weave, weft-loop pile
Coptic Textile Fragment with Image of a Goddess, Linen, wool; plain weave, weft-loop pile
Coptic Textile Fragment with Image of a Goddess, Linen, wool; plain weave, weft-loop pile
Coptic Textile Fragment with Image of a Goddess, Linen, wool; plain weave, weft-loop pile

This artwork is meant to be viewed from right to left. Scroll left to view more.