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Coptic Textile Fragment with Image of a Goddess

late 3rd–4th century
Not on view
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.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Coptic Textile Fragment with Image of a Goddess
  • Date: late 3rd–4th century
  • Geography: Attributed to Egypt, Upper Egypt; Thebes
  • Medium: Linen, wool; plain weave, weft-loop pile
  • Dimensions: Textile: H. 22 1/16 in. (56 cm)
    W. 24 13/16 in. (63 cm)
    Mount: H. 26 1/4 in. (66.7 cm)
    W. 29 1/4 in. (74.3 cm)
    D. 1 5/8 in. (4.1 cm)
  • Classification: Textiles
  • Credit Line: Gift of Helen Miller Gould, 1910
  • Object Number: 10.130.1076
  • Curatorial Department: Islamic Art

More Artwork

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Tunic with Dionysian Ornament, Undyed linen with tapestry woven wool decorations
Tunic with Dionysian Ornament
probably 5th century
Tunic with Dionysian Ornament, Linen, wool; plain weave, tapestry weave
Tunic with Dionysian Ornament
probably 5th century
Textile Fragment, Wool, linen; plain weave, tapsetry weave
Textile Fragment
5th century
Textile Fragment, Wool, linen; plain weave, weft loop weave
Textile Fragment
5th century
Textile Fragment, Wool, linen; plain weave, weft loop weave
Textile Fragment
3rd–5th century

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