Collection

Coptic Antiquities

Coptic Art appeared in Egypt during the Hellenistic period when Greek artists flocked to Alexandria. The art produced by the Egyptian artists was simple in material and technique, as their resources were limited, and the greatest artists joined the royal court. This modest art was known as folk art and later acquired the name Coptic art. It did not match the splendor of the ancient Egyptian art, nor the beautiful form of the Greco-Roman art. Coptic art was divided into six phases, the most important of which was the third phase. At the peak of its glory, Coptic art took a religious form and was dedicated to the services of the Christian faith.
Among the most important aspects of Coptic art were its folkloric and symbolic representation and its tendency to use geometrical lines and miniatures.
The Museum is housing a collection of ivory, bone, textiles items with geometric and floral designs and pottery that carries religious symbols and wooden items.

An icon representing Jesus Christ sitting on the throne of glory surrounded in a symbolic form by the four apostles.In Christ’s left hand is a scroll, which bears a verse from the Bible. Inside the nimbus around Christ’s head is another verse from the Bible, surmounted with a third verse in red ink. The icon was created by Ibrahim and Uhanna the Armenian in 1464 Coptic calendar (1748 AD)

Bible support, formed of three parts: the upper part holds the open Bible; the middle part represents the body of the support, and the lower part is a box decorated with Coptic letter, crosses and Arabic inscriptions.