O. V. Orfinskaya

Interernii tekstil rannego Srednevekovya v Egipte [Early Medieval Interior Textiles in Egypt]

Thousands of fragments of various textile materials from ancient Egyptian burials that have survived until today provide evidence of widespread use of textiles in daily life. In addition to clothing fragments, there are also remains of interior textile items such as curtains, bedding, pillowcases, mattress coverings, bed linens, tablecloths, table napkins, and rugs. Veils that served various purposes in ancient Egyptian society occupy a prominent position in this list. They were used to divide rooms, regulate the flow of air and light, and decorate homes. The images and red markings on the veils were believed to protect homes from misfortune. After death, veils would accompany the deceased, serving as funeral shrouds. The findings of the Center for Egyptological Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences at the Deir el-Banat necropolis provide insight into the varying levels of wealth and status of deceased, as evidenced by quality of the textiles found with them. The article discusses two textiles that reflect different levels of textile production in ancient Egypt during the early Middle Ages.

Keywords:
fabrics, archaeological textiles, home decoration, “Coptic fabrics”, decorative and applied arts.

Original language — Russian.

DOI: 10.24412/2686-9276-2025-00004.

Referring: Orfinskaya O. V. Early Medieval Interior Textiles in Egypt [in Russian] // Egypt and Neighbouring Countries 1 (2025): 48-66. DOI: 10.24412/2686-9276-2025-00004.

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