When was this tunic ornament made?
This woven decoration, like the tunic of which it was a part, likely was created in the fifth or sixth century CE. During this time, Egypt was a province of the Eastern Roman (later known as the "Byzantine") Empire. The period of Egyptian history from c. 300 to c. 700 CE sometimes is referred to as the Coptic Era—a reference to the native Christian Church, whose liturgy and scripture employed the native Egyptian language (Coptic) rather than Greek, and which operated independently from the Byzantine church hierarchy from the mid-fifth century CE. During this time, Egypt enjoyed close cultural, religious, and economic relationships not only with its Greek- and Syriac-speaking northern neighbors, but also with Nubia and Aksum (Ethiopia) to the south and Persia and Central Asia to the east. Egyptian textiles from the period reflect this multi-cultural milieu, combining ancient Egyptian and Greek mythological themes, Persian motifs and scenes (such as the one seen here), and Christian symbols.
