Such floral decorations were a common motif in the Near East and are also found in Syria and in Egypt. The Ancient Egyptians had a vital connection with nature and hieroglyphs record many palms, papyrus and lotus. During the Early Coptic period (3rd – 4th centuries AD), the primary decorative themes were taken from nature and Classical mythology and were certainly also influenced by Roman iconology. By the Middle Coptic period (5th – 7th centuries AD), depictions included abstract natural elements and Christian symbolism.
To discover more about Coptic textiles, please visit our relevant blog post: Coptic Textiles in Antiquity.