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Coptic. <em>Column Capital</em>, 6th century C.E. Limestone, 11 5/16 x 20 7/8 x 21 7/8 in. (28.7 x 53 x 55.5 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 43.55. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 43.55_view1_PS1.jpg)
Coptic. Column Capital, 6th century C.E. Limestone, 11 5/16 x 20 7/8 x 21 7/8 in. (28.7 x 53 x 55.5 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 43.55. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 43.55_view1_PS1.jpg)
Coptic. <em>Column Capital</em>, 6th century C.E. Limestone, 11 5/16 x 20 7/8 x 21 7/8 in. (28.7 x 53 x 55.5 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 43.55. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 43.55_view1_PS1.jpg)

Coptic. Column Capital, 6th century C.E. Limestone, 11 5/16 x 20 7/8 x 21 7/8 in. (28.7 x 53 x 55.5 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 43.55. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 43.55_view1_PS1.jpg)

Coptic. <em>Column Capital</em>, 6th century C.E. Limestone, 11 5/16 x 20 7/8 x 21 7/8 in. (28.7 x 53 x 55.5 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 43.55. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 43.55_view2_PS1.jpg)

Coptic. Column Capital, 6th century C.E. Limestone, 11 5/16 x 20 7/8 x 21 7/8 in. (28.7 x 53 x 55.5 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 43.55. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 43.55_view2_PS1.jpg)

Coptic. <em>Column Capital</em>, 6th century C.E. Limestone, 11 5/16 x 20 7/8 x 21 7/8 in. (28.7 x 53 x 55.5 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 43.55. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, CUR.43.55_unearthing_coptic.jpg)

Coptic. Column Capital, 6th century C.E. Limestone, 11 5/16 x 20 7/8 x 21 7/8 in. (28.7 x 53 x 55.5 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 43.55. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, CUR.43.55_unearthing_coptic.jpg)

Coptic. <em>Column Capital</em>, 6th century C.E. Limestone, 11 5/16 x 20 7/8 x 21 7/8 in. (28.7 x 53 x 55.5 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 43.55. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum (in collaboration with Index of Christian Art, Princeton University), CUR.43.55_detail01_ICA.jpg)

Coptic. Column Capital, 6th century C.E. Limestone, 11 5/16 x 20 7/8 x 21 7/8 in. (28.7 x 53 x 55.5 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 43.55. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum (in collaboration with Index of Christian Art, Princeton University), CUR.43.55_detail01_ICA.jpg)

Coptic. <em>Column Capital</em>, 6th century C.E. Limestone, 11 5/16 x 20 7/8 x 21 7/8 in. (28.7 x 53 x 55.5 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 43.55. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum (in collaboration with Index of Christian Art, Princeton University), CUR.43.55_detail02_ICA.jpg)

Coptic. Column Capital, 6th century C.E. Limestone, 11 5/16 x 20 7/8 x 21 7/8 in. (28.7 x 53 x 55.5 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 43.55. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum (in collaboration with Index of Christian Art, Princeton University), CUR.43.55_detail02_ICA.jpg)

Coptic. <em>Column Capital</em>, 6th century C.E. Limestone, 11 5/16 x 20 7/8 x 21 7/8 in. (28.7 x 53 x 55.5 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 43.55. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum (in collaboration with Index of Christian Art, Princeton University), CUR.43.55_detail03_ICA.jpg)

Coptic. Column Capital, 6th century C.E. Limestone, 11 5/16 x 20 7/8 x 21 7/8 in. (28.7 x 53 x 55.5 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 43.55. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum (in collaboration with Index of Christian Art, Princeton University), CUR.43.55_detail03_ICA.jpg)

Coptic. <em>Column Capital</em>, 6th century C.E. Limestone, 11 5/16 x 20 7/8 x 21 7/8 in. (28.7 x 53 x 55.5 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 43.55. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum (in collaboration with Index of Christian Art, Princeton University), CUR.43.55_detail04_ICA.jpg)

Coptic. Column Capital, 6th century C.E. Limestone, 11 5/16 x 20 7/8 x 21 7/8 in. (28.7 x 53 x 55.5 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 43.55. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum (in collaboration with Index of Christian Art, Princeton University), CUR.43.55_detail04_ICA.jpg)

Coptic. <em>Column Capital</em>, 6th century C.E. Limestone, 11 5/16 x 20 7/8 x 21 7/8 in. (28.7 x 53 x 55.5 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 43.55. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum (in collaboration with Index of Christian Art, Princeton University), CUR.43.55_detail05_ICA.jpg)

Coptic. Column Capital, 6th century C.E. Limestone, 11 5/16 x 20 7/8 x 21 7/8 in. (28.7 x 53 x 55.5 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 43.55. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum (in collaboration with Index of Christian Art, Princeton University), CUR.43.55_detail05_ICA.jpg)

Coptic. <em>Column Capital</em>, 6th century C.E. Limestone, 11 5/16 x 20 7/8 x 21 7/8 in. (28.7 x 53 x 55.5 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 43.55. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum (in collaboration with Index of Christian Art, Princeton University), CUR.43.55_view1_ICA.jpg)

Coptic. Column Capital, 6th century C.E. Limestone, 11 5/16 x 20 7/8 x 21 7/8 in. (28.7 x 53 x 55.5 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 43.55. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum (in collaboration with Index of Christian Art, Princeton University), CUR.43.55_view1_ICA.jpg)

Coptic. <em>Column Capital</em>, 6th century C.E. Limestone, 11 5/16 x 20 7/8 x 21 7/8 in. (28.7 x 53 x 55.5 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 43.55. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum (in collaboration with Index of Christian Art, Princeton University), CUR.43.55_view2_ICA.jpg)

Coptic. Column Capital, 6th century C.E. Limestone, 11 5/16 x 20 7/8 x 21 7/8 in. (28.7 x 53 x 55.5 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 43.55. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum (in collaboration with Index of Christian Art, Princeton University), CUR.43.55_view2_ICA.jpg)

Coptic. <em>Column Capital</em>, 6th century C.E. Limestone, 11 5/16 x 20 7/8 x 21 7/8 in. (28.7 x 53 x 55.5 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 43.55. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum (in collaboration with Index of Christian Art, Princeton University), CUR.43.55_view3_ICA.jpg)

Coptic. Column Capital, 6th century C.E. Limestone, 11 5/16 x 20 7/8 x 21 7/8 in. (28.7 x 53 x 55.5 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 43.55. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum (in collaboration with Index of Christian Art, Princeton University), CUR.43.55_view3_ICA.jpg)

Coptic. <em>Column Capital</em>, 6th century C.E. Limestone, 11 5/16 x 20 7/8 x 21 7/8 in. (28.7 x 53 x 55.5 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 43.55. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum (in collaboration with Index of Christian Art, Princeton University), CUR.43.55_view4_ICA.jpg)

Coptic. Column Capital, 6th century C.E. Limestone, 11 5/16 x 20 7/8 x 21 7/8 in. (28.7 x 53 x 55.5 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 43.55. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum (in collaboration with Index of Christian Art, Princeton University), CUR.43.55_view4_ICA.jpg)

Coptic. <em>Column Capital</em>, 6th century C.E. Limestone, 11 5/16 x 20 7/8 x 21 7/8 in. (28.7 x 53 x 55.5 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 43.55. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum (in collaboration with Index of Christian Art, Princeton University), CUR.43.55_view5_ICA.jpg)

Coptic. Column Capital, 6th century C.E. Limestone, 11 5/16 x 20 7/8 x 21 7/8 in. (28.7 x 53 x 55.5 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 43.55. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum (in collaboration with Index of Christian Art, Princeton University), CUR.43.55_view5_ICA.jpg)

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Column Capital

Egyptian, Classical, Ancient Near Eastern Art

It is probable that these four examples of Christian art were made for religious buildings rather than tombs. The capital, which would have decorated the top of a small column, has slots to hold the walls of a chapel. The bust of an unnamed saint, shown blessing his viewers, may represent the patron saint of a church or monastery. The pair of reliefs shows saints who are little known today. St. Sissinios is apparently shown killing his sister, whose daughter had been taken over by the devil. St. Thekla, who was converted to Christianity by St. Paul, is being martyred by two crudely rendered lions.
This text refers to these objects: 43.55; 40.299; 40.300; 55.2.3
CULTURE Coptic
MEDIUM Limestone
  • Reportedly From: Bawit, Egypt
    • DATES 6th century C.E.
    PERIOD Late Antique Period
    DIMENSIONS 11 5/16 x 20 7/8 x 21 7/8 in. (28.7 x 53 x 55.5 cm)  (show scale)
    COLLECTIONS Egyptian, Classical, Ancient Near Eastern Art
    ACCESSION NUMBER 43.55
    CREDIT LINE Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund
    MUSEUM LOCATION This item is not on view
    CAPTION Coptic. Column Capital, 6th century C.E. Limestone, 11 5/16 x 20 7/8 x 21 7/8 in. (28.7 x 53 x 55.5 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 43.55. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 43.55_view1_PS1.jpg)
    IMAGE overall, 43.55_view1_PS1.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph, 2005
    "CUR" at the beginning of an image file name means that the image was created by a curatorial staff member. These study images may be digital point-and-shoot photographs, when we don\'t yet have high-quality studio photography, or they may be scans of older negatives, slides, or photographic prints, providing historical documentation of the object.
    RIGHTS STATEMENT Creative Commons-BY
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    Coptic. <em>Column Capital</em>, 6th century C.E. Limestone, 11 5/16 x 20 7/8 x 21 7/8 in. (28.7 x 53 x 55.5 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 43.55. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 43.55_view1_PS1.jpg)

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    capital
    Christian
    column
    Coptic
    limestone
    stone

    TAGS

    capital
    Christian
    column
    Coptic
    limestone
    stone

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