Portrait of a young woman from Hawara. Such paintings are usually of descendents of immigrants from Greece who had settled in Egypt. Such people had come to Egypt in search of employment after the invasion of Alexander the Great (332-323 BC). It may be that during the lifetime of the sitter, such paintings were displayed in the house. After death they were put in mummy wrappings. Roman Period (30 BC- AD 395)

Flat painted coffin face. The portrait is Hellenistic Egyptian from a family recently settled in the country and descended from immigrants come to find employment following the invasion of Alexander the Great. It is possible that such paintings were originally displayed in the home, but when found they had been used as mummy masks. This example comes from Hawara but many others have been found in the Faiyum. For more information on these items see Walker, S. and M Bierbrier 1997. 'Ancient Faces: Mummy Portraits from Roman Egypt'. British Museum Press. 150x320mm.

Collection

Egypt Centre, University of Swansea

Inventory Number

3543596

Title

Portrait of a young woman from Hawara. Such paintings are usually of descendents of immigrants from Greece who had settled in Egypt. Such people had come to Egypt in search of employment after the invasion of Alexander the Great (332-323 BC). It may be that during the lifetime of the sitter, such paintings were displayed in the house. After death they were put in mummy wrappings. Roman Period (30 BC- AD 395)

Object Type

Image

Measurements

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