Roundel with Amazons and a cross. Seventh-ninth century C.E. Weft-faced compound twill (samite) in green, beige, and brownish silk.
1media/main-image-4_thumb.jpg2021-12-13T18:24:22-08:00Finley Cassidy3c0c321ec657f9ee9d7001c46137135200a0a7f7394473Roundel with Amazons and a cross. Seventh-ninth century C.E. Weft-faced compound twill (samite) in green, beige, and brownish silk. Metropolitan Museum of Art 1987.442.5plain2022-09-15T11:06:03-07:00Amanda Luyster17d39c1ecea88fb7ff282fe74a410b89478b8327
This page is referenced by:
12021-11-03T13:50:33-07:00When was this made?26plain2023-01-14T13:54:30-08:00By Finley Cassidy '22
Thisobjecthas been dated from the 7th-9th century. Due to the large number of similar silks that still survive in various colors, it is possible for art historians to trace the long popularity of this ancient iconography. For instance, this related example at the Metropolitan Museum of Art has a tiny cross at the top and bottom of the roundel's circular frame. Other examples of similar silks show motifs associated with Islamic cultural contexts. It appears as if this roundel's iconography showing two Amazons on horseback was in use for many years and in different religious and cultural contexts.
