New Discoveries: Early Liturgical Textiles from Egypt, 200–400

Iconographic analysis and scientific testing have revealed new information about the meaning and use of two textiles in the Museum's collection.

The first—woven in a loop pile meant to suggest a mosaic—has recently been recognized as a wall hanging for Christian liturgical use. The second—five recently acquired elements from a depiction of the Crossing of the Red Sea as described in the book of Exodus—can be understood as being from a wall hanging for Christian or possibly Jewish use.

Credit: Exhibition Overview from the Museum website