New Interpretation of the Imagines Clypeatae on the Coptic Textiles of the 4th – 7th Centuries

Late Antique Egyptian textiles of the 4th – 7th centuries often represent compositions with busts within medallions. The attribution of these images is still undecided and they can be viewed by scholars from different angles, like decorative, mythological or astronomic features. The rich variety of the Late Egyptian textiles in the Hermitage collection allows us to construct the typology of the abovementioned compositions and to trace their evolution. From ancient times all these images were the symbols of protection, elevation and immortality. They definitely function as an apotropaion and demonstrate the link with the cult of Dionysos. Images within medallions most often appear in eschatological compositions: with a Nereid riding a hippocampus, figures of a horseman an Amazon, a lion or an eagle. The greater part of similar images comes from the London collection in the Victoria and Albert Museum and the Municipal Museum of Haag. They originate from Akhmim. Purple textiles with waist-figures within medallions are connected mainly with the former two Greek settlements – Antinoia and Akhmim. It is possible that a considerable part of their population were Roman veterans whose descendants for a long time followed their traditional funeral customs.

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