Fragment of a Band with Noble Equestrian and Soldier, Inscribed “Joseph” in Greek or Coptic
Returned to lender
This work of art was on loan to the museum and has since been returned to its lender.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.
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.
Artwork Details
- Title: Fragment of a Band with Noble Equestrian and Soldier, Inscribed “Joseph” in Greek or Coptic
- Date: 7th–9th century (?)
- Geography: Made in Egypt or Syria (?)
- Medium: Weft-faced compound twill ( samit ) in blue-violet and beige silk
- Dimensions: 10 3/8 x 6 3/4 in. (26.4 x 17.2 cm)
- Classification: Textiles
- Credit Line: Byzantine Collection, Dumbarton Oaks, Washingtion, D.C. (BZ.1956.2)
- Curatorial Department: Medieval Art and The Cloisters