Returned to lender The Met accepts temporary loans of art both for short-term exhibitions and for long-term display in its galleries.
Fragment of a Band with Noble Equestrian and Soldier, Inscribed “Joseph” in Greek or Coptic
Not on view
Nineteenth-century excavations at the cemetery at Panopolis (Akhmim), a city long associated with Dionysos, yielded silks elaborately woven with classical motifs. Recent radiocarbon dating of textiles associated with the site place them between the seventh and ninth centuries, providing a sense of the continuity of styles as the region transitioned from Byzantine to Islamic rule.
The popularity of the hunting theme is attested by numerous surviving examples. Occasionally names appear above the riding figures, suggesting modifications were possible on demand. Here, "Joseph" has been inserted into the design in Greek or Coptic.
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