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Tunic with Mythological Motifs

Egyptian, Classical, Ancient Near Eastern Art

Ancient Egyptian weavers decorated linen and wool with indigo-blue dye as early as 2000 B.C.E. But the actual source of indigo color in Egypt remains uncertain.

The plant that produces true indigo dye, Indigofera tinctoria, is not known to have grown in Egypt, but was imported through trade routes by the Greco-Roman period (323 B.C.E.–395 C.E.).

The woad plant, which produced a slightly less concentrated indigo color, was likely the earliest source of blue dye in Egypt.
CULTURE Coptic
MEDIUM Wool
DATES 7th century C.E.
PERIOD Late Antique Period
DIMENSIONS as mounted: 2 × 53 1/2 × 101 in. (5.1 × 135.9 × 256.5 cm)  (show scale)
ACCESSION NUMBER 41.523
CREDIT LINE Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund
MUSEUM LOCATION This item is not on view
CAPTION Coptic. Tunic with Mythological Motifs, 7th century C.E. Wool, as mounted: 2 × 53 1/2 × 101 in. (5.1 × 135.9 × 256.5 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 41.523. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 41.523_PS2.jpg)
IMAGE overall, 41.523_PS2.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph, 2006
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RIGHTS STATEMENT Creative Commons-BY
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