332 BCE- 642 CE Founded by Alexander the Great, it was one of the greatest cities of the Mediterranean world – the intellectual center of Hellenic scholarship, culture and science, home to its legendary library and one of the “Seven Wonders of the World,” Pharaoh’s lighthouse. As Egypt’ capital, was a major Mediterranean seaport on the Nile and Rome’s major grain supplier. Under Roman rule for centuries, it was a major Greek city and Christian center with Greeks, Romans, Christians, Jews and Copts. Many terracotta figurines were made during the Roman occupation to provide home deities and revered figures. We have two terracotta figurines from this period.
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Artisans in the Roman Empire created varying local styles of terracotta figurines of gods and goddesses for placement on home shrines. This figure holding a jar represents Haroprates the ancient Greek god of silence and secrets. He may be an image of a royal and temple cult since he wears a double crown that symbolized…
This terracotta figurine from Alexandria in the Roman Egypt depicting a female holding a young child was probably placed in a home shrine to provide favors and protection. Although it is difficult to identify specific deities, this figure is probably a kourotrophos (meaning woman nurturing a child) –a female mortal or deity figurine with an…
The term Coptic Cross refers to several variants in Christian art associated with the Coptic Orthodox Church in Africa. Coptic crosses from the Orthodox Church of Alexandria were a foundation for Ethiopian Cross design and symbolism. The Ethiopian Orthodox Church historically assimilated pre-Christian symbols and imparted its own meanings to them. A Christian cross with…
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