The Illustrated Guide to the Coptic Museum and Churches of Old Cairo - Softcover

Gabra, Gawdat; Eaton-Krauss, Marianne

Softcover

ISBN 10: 977416007X ISBN 13: 9789774160073

Publisher: The American University in Cairo Press, 2007

Synopsis

Egypt’s Coptic Church is one of the oldest in the world, encompassing two millennia of history, tradition, and culture. The Coptic Museum, founded in Old Cairo in 1908, houses the world’s largest and most exquisite collection of Coptic artifacts, representing every historical era, from the earliest Christian period to the nineteenth century. After undergoing extensive renovations and repair, the Coptic Museum is open to the public again, making this richly informative and illustrated book very timely for anyone interested in this rich artistic heritage. Structured as a guide, but fully illustrated with superb color photographs, this book suggests a simple but comprehensive itinerary through one of Egypt’s most fascinating museums.

Taking readers through the various exhibits, this useful guidebook explains and illuminates the aesthetic and religious importance of each of the museum’s works on display, such as icons, stelae, sculptures, wall paintings, wooden altar screens, liturgical implements, and vestments and bible caskets. Textiles, ceramics and documents (including the Nag Hammadi Gnostic library from the fourth century, one of the most important collections of papyri in the world) provide valuable insights into the economic and social life of Egypt’s Copts over the last two thousand years.

About this title

About the Author

Gawdat Gabra is the former director of the Coptic Museum and the author, coauthor, or editor of numerous books on the history and culture of Egyptian Christianity, including The History and Religious Heritage of Old Cairo (AUC Press, 2013). He is currently visiting professor of Coptic studies at Claremont Graduate University, California.

Marianne Eaton-Krauss is a specialist on the art and archaeology of pharaonic Egypt. She is the author of The Representations of Statuary in Private Tombs of the Old Kingdom.

Edition details

• Publisher: The American University in Cairo Press
• Publication date: 2007
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 977416007X
• ISBN 13: 9789774160073
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 308