Capital with a Basket-Weave Pattern and Rams’ Heads

On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 302

The monastic community of Bawit, founded in the 300s by Apa (Father) Apollo at a small village, grew to consist of numerous complexes with residences, chapels, and service structures and two large churches profusely decorated with sculptures and paintings, often reused from other sites, all affiliated with the Coptic church. The more important buildings were decorated with courses of sculpted stone freely combining floral and geometric motifs inspired by classical art – rosettes, acanthus leaves, meander patterns – with more recent Christian themes. Basket-weave capitals were popular throughout the Byzantine world in this period.

Capital with a Basket-Weave Pattern and Rams’ Heads, Limestone; carved in relief

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Capital with a Basket-Weave Pattern and Rams’ Heads, Limestone; carved in relief
Capital with a Basket-Weave Pattern and Rams’ Heads, Limestone; carved in relief
Capital with a Basket-Weave Pattern and Rams’ Heads, Limestone; carved in relief
Capital with a Basket-Weave Pattern and Rams’ Heads, Limestone; carved in relief

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