Roman Period Textile Fragment Depicting Venus - PF.0352a Origin: Egypt Circa: 200
AD
to 500
AD Dimensions:6.5" (16.5cm) high x 11" (27.9cm) wide Collection: Egyptian Medium: Textile
A remarkable souvenir from the sunset of the
pagan world. This beautiful weaving once served
as the yoke collar for a tunic. It depicts Venus,
the goddess of love, admiring her naked beauty
in a hand mirror while her dancing worshipers
bring her gifts of birds. Its original bright colors
have faded with time, but the lively style evokes
the age when Rome ruled the world. The woman
who wore it in antiquity must have been very
lovely indeed to risk comparison to a goddess.
- (PF.0352a)