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Exhibition
Africa & Byzantium
November 19, 2023–March 3, 2024
Previously on view at
The Met Fifth Avenue
in
Gallery 199
Free with Museum admission
All exhibitions
Overview
Visiting Guide
Exhibition Objects
Mosaic Panel with Preparations for a Feast
North African (Carthage, Tunisia)
4th quarter of the 2nd century
Mosaic of Lion Attacking Onager
North African (Sousse, Hadrumetum, Tunisia)
150–200 C.E.
Vase
North African (Tunis El Aouja, Navigius school)
290–320
Jug
North African (Tunis El Aouja, Navigius school)
290–320
Bottle
North African (Tunisia)
275–325
Amphora
North African (Tunis El Aouja, Navigius school)
290–320
Lagynos
North African (Tunisia)
290–320
Mosaic with the "Lady of Carthage"
North African (Carthage, Tunisia)
4th–5th century
Rock Crystal Dish in the Form of a Temple
North African (Carthage)
3rd–5th century
Rock crystal Statuette of a Lion
North African (Carthage)
3rd–4th century
Fragment of a Rock Crystal Bowl
North African (Carthage)
3rd–5th century
Rock Crystal Bowl
North African (Carthage)
3rd–5th century
Rock Crystal Statuette of a Dolphin
North African (Carthage)
3rd–5th century
Box with Isis-Tyche-Aphrodite and Dionysus-Serapis
Early Byzantine (Egypt)
mid 4th–5th century
Panel with Painted Image of Isis
Egypt
2nd century
Textile Fragment with Satyr and Maenad
Byzantine (Egypt)
4th century
Funerary Figure of a Woman
Coptic (Egypt)
3rd–4th century
Pectoral with Coins and Pseudo-Medallion
Byzantine
ca. 539–50
Earring (one of a pair)
Byzantine
6th–7th century
Earring (one of a pair)
Byzantine
6th–7th century
Necklace with Pendant Crosses
Byzantine
6th–7th century
Bracelet (one of a pair)
Byzantine
ca. 400
Bracelet (one of a pair)
Byzantine
ca. 400
Jeweled Bracelet
Byzantine
500–700
Jeweled Bracelet (one of pair)
Byzantine
500–700
Shroud of a Woman Wearing a Fringed Tunic
A.D. 170–200
Textile; curtain
Byzantine (Akhmim (?), Egypt)
6th–7th century
Fragment from a Coptic Hanging
5th century
Textile Fragment with Artemis and Actaeon(?)
Byzantine (Akhmim (?), Egypt)
5th–7th century
Jug
Nubian (Karanog, Egypt)
100 B.C.E.–300 C.E.
Bust of an African Child
Roman (Samanud, Egypt)
2nd–3rd century C.E.
Lamp
Roman (Timgad, Algeria)
after 100 C.E.
Beaker
Nubian (Meroe, Sudan)
ca. 50–250 C.E.
Cylindrical Jar with Two Small Handles
Nubian (Sudan)
ca. 300 B.C.E.–350 C.E.
Cup with Impressed Decoration
Nubian (Meroe, Sudan)
50–250 C.E.
Globular Jar
Meroitic (Sudan)
50–250 C.E.
Bridal Chest
Nubian (Qustul, Egypt)
4th–6th century
Box
Nubian (Egypt or Sudan)
4th–6th century
Toilet Box
Meroitic (Karanog, Egypt)
100 B.C.E.– 300 C.E.
Ashburnham Pentateuch
Late Roman (Rome or North Africa)
late 6th–early 7th century
Coin of Endybis (AV.1 Type)
Ethiopian (Aksum, Ethiopia)
295–310
Coin of Apuilas (AV.1 Type)
Ethiopian (Aksum, Ethiopia)
310–early 320s
Ezana Av.1 Type
Ethiopian (Aksum, Ethiopia)
340s–380s
Coin of ʿEzana (AV.1 Type)
Ethiopian (Aksum, Ethiopia)
mid-340s–380
Coin of Nezool (AV.1 Type)
Ethiopian (Aksum, Ethiopia)
late 5th century
Coin - Armah AE.1 Type
Ethiopian (Aksum, Ethiopia)
530s–50s
Anonymous Coin (AR.2 Gilt Type)
Ethiopian (Aksum, Ethiopia)
mid-4th–mid-6th century
Coin of Ǝllä Gäbäz (AV.1 Type)
Ethiopian (Aksum, Ethiopia)
550s–60s
Metal Crown
Nubian (Egypt)
5th–6th century
Metal Crown
Nubian (Egypt)
5th–6th century
Capital with Putti Holding Wreaths and with Acanthus Leaves
second half 4th century
Lampstand
Nubian (Egypt)
4th–5th century
Icon of the Virgin Enthroned
Byzantine (Egypt)
6th century
Icon with the Virgin and Child, Saints, Angels, and the Hand of God
Early Byzantine (Egypt)
6th century
Capital with Acanthus Leaves
6th–7th century
Capital with Acanthus Leaves
6th century
Painting of Holy Men
Byzantine (Egypt)
5th–6th century
Ampulla (Flask) of Saint Menas
Byzantine (Egypt)
5th–6th century
Ampulla (Flask) of Saint Menas
Byzantine (Egypt)
5th–6th century
Capital
6th–7th century
Ampulla (Flask) of Saint Menas
Byzantine (Egypt)
ca. 610–50
Ampulla (Flask) of Saint Menas
late 6th century–mid 8th century
Wall Painting with Holy Men and a Coptic Inscription
Byzantine (Egypt)
6th–7th century
Ostrakon with an Invocation or Charm
Coptic (Egypt)
580–640
Papyrus Fragments with Seth on Mount Sinai
Coptic
5th–6th century
Necklace and Pendant Cross
Coptic (Egypt)
500–700
Pottery Fragment with Figure
Coptic
4th–7th century
Amulet Carved in Intaglio (Incised)
Byzantine (Egypt)
6th–7th century
Lamp Mold with Christogram
North African (Tunisia)
6th century
Lamp Mold with Christogram
North African (Tunisia)
6th century
Oil Lamp with Christ Crushing the Serpent's Head
North African (Tunisia)
6th century
Oil Lamp Reflector with Adam and Eve
North African (Tunisia)
5th–6th century
Oil Lamp with Menorah and Christ Crushing the Serpent's Head
North African (Tunisia)
6th century
Oil Lamp with Angel
North African (Tunisia)
late 6th century–first quarter 7th century
Lamp
4th–5th century
Oil Lamp with Cross and Birds
North African (Tunisia)
6th century
Lamp with the Three Hebrews before Nebuchadnezzar
5th–6th century
Oil Lamp with Christogram and the Heads of the Apostles
North African (Tunisia)
first half 5th century
Spell to Acquire a Beautiful Voice
Coptic (Egypt)
6th–7th century
Tile with Vegetal Decoration
North African (Carthage, Tunisia)
5th–6th century
Tile with Abraham's Sacrifice
North African (Cillium, Kasserine, Tunisia)
6th–early 7th century
Tile with Lion
North African ( Carthage, Tunisia)
second half 6th century
Tile with Daniel in the Lion's Den
North African (Thysdrus, El Jem Tunisia)
early 7th century
Tile with Deer
North African (Carthage, Tunisia)
early 7th century
Mosaic with Epitaph
North African (Henchir Chigarnia, Tunisia)
late 4th–early 6th century C.E.
Mosaic with Latin Inscription
North African (Tunisia, Furnos Minor, Messadine)
late 4th–early 5th century
Mosaic of Date Palm
North African (Hammam Lif, Tunisia)
6th century C.E.
Mosaic of Menorah
North African (Hammam Lif, Tunisia)
6th century
Mosaic of Menorah with Lulav and Ethrog
North African (Hammam Lif, Tunisia)
6th century
Mosaic with Lion
North African (Hammam Lif, Tunisia)
6th century
Incense Burner
Byzantine (Egypt)
5th century
Revue archéologique; ou, Recueil des documents et des mémoires relatifs à l'étude des monuments, à la numismatique et à la philologie de l'Antiquité et du Moyen Age
Ernest Leroux
1884
Dedicatory Inscriptions from the Ben Ezra Synagogue
Egyptian (Cairo (Fustat), Egypt)
13th century
Dedicatory Inscriptions from the Ben Ezra Synagogue
Egyptian (Cairo (Fustat), Egypt)
ca. 1220 C.E.
Papyrus
Coptic
699
Double Folio from a Qur'an
North African (Kairouan, Tunisia)
late 7th–early 8th century
Folio from a Qur'an
North African (Kairouan, Tunisia)
early 9th century
Half-Dinar
North African (Ifriqya, Tunisia)
708–711
Gold Dinar
North African (Ifriqya, Tunisia)
712–713
Coinage of Sulayman
Ifriqyan (Spain or North Africa)
716 C.E.
Icon with the Virgin Hodegetria Dexiokratousa
Byzantine (Egypt)
first quarter of 13th century
Vita Icon of Saint George with Scenes of His Passion and Miracles
Byzantine (Egypt)
early 13th century
Icon with the Virgin Galaktotrophousa
Byzantine (Egypt)
1250–1350
Christian Topography of Cosmas Indicopleustes
Byzantine (Egypt)
early 11th century
Icon of the Virgin and Child, Hodegetria variant
Byzantine or Crusader (13th century)
13th century
Bible with Ancient Binding
Coptic (Fayyum Oasis, Egypt)
822–914; binding: 7th–8th century
Martyrology of Saints Theodore the Anatolian (the Oriental), Leontius the Arab, and Panigerus the Persian
Coptic (Fayyum Oasis, Egypt)
after 31 December 867
Encomium
Coptic (Fayyum Oasis, Egypt)
892–893
Homily
Coptic (Theogenidos (Perpnoute), Egypt)
902–903
Miscellany
Coptic (Fayyum Oasis, Egypt)
913–914
Three Fragments with a Coptic Inscription
810–1010 (radiocarbon date, 95% probability)
Casket with Warriors and Dancers
Byzantine
11th century
Triptych with Crucifixion
Coptic (Egypt)
13th–15th century
Pentaglot Psalter
Egyptian (Wadi Natrun, Egypt)
12th–14th century; restored and rebound 1636
The Monastery of the Syrians, Wadi Natrun, Plan
William J. Jones
1911
The Monastery of the Syrians, Sketch of Details of Plasterwork in the Haikal of the Church of El Adra, East Wall
William J. Jones
1911
Taʾrīḫ tuḏkar fīhi aḫbār min nawāḥī Miṣr wa-aqṭāʿ ihā (History of Churches and Monasteries)
Abu-'l-Makārim Saʿdallah Ibn-Ǧirǧis Ibn-Masʿūd
1338
Excerpt from Shenoute of Atripe’s “Discourse” 8
Coptic (Egypt)
8th–9th century
Book of Revelation
Coptic (Egypt)
9th–10th century
Icon Triptych: Ewostatewos and Eight of His Disciples
Amhara peoples
late 17th century
Plank with Bilingual Psalm
Nubian (Qasr Ibrim, Egypt)
11th-14th century
Ostrakon
Nubian (Qasr Ibrim, Egypt)
possibly 6th century
Document in Old Nubian
Nubian (Qasr Ibrim, Egypt)
12th century
Document in Old Nubian
Nubian (Qasr Ibrim, Egypt)
9th–10th century
Benedictional Cross
Nubian (Qasr Ibrim, Egypt)
14th century
Icon with the Virgin and Child
Byzantine
mid-10th–mid-11th century
Virgin Hodegetria
Nubian (Faras)
8th century
Wall Painting with Bishop Petros Protected by Saint Peter
Nubian (Faras)
late 10th century
Wall Painting with Christ and a Nubian Dignitary
Nubian (Faras)
mid 12th century
Diptych Icon with St. George and the Virgin Eleousa
Ethiopian (Ethiopia)
ca 1500, and possibly Crete, ca 1480–90
Mäṣḥafä Bərhan (Book of Light)
Ethiopian (Ethiopia)
ca. 1450–1468
Panel Painting with the Crowned Nursing Virgin and the Twelve Apostles
Ethiopian (Ethiopia)
second half 15th century
Manuscript
Ethiopian Orthodox (Ethiopia)
ca. 1500
Single Leaf from a Gospel Book with a Portrait of St Luke
Ethiopian Orthodox (Ethiopia)
ca. 1440–1480
Diptych with the Kiss of St. John
Ethiopian (Ethiopia)
15th century
Illuminated Gospel
Amhara peoples
late 14th–early 15th century
Diptych with the Apostles and the Virgin and Child
Ethiopian (Ethiopia)
ca.1480s–1520s (or possibly later)
Diptych with Saint George and the Virgin and Child
Ethiopian (Ethiopia)
late 15th–early 16th century
Processional Cross
Ethiopian (Ethiopia)
12th–13th century
Processional Cross
Ethiopian (Ethiopia)
mid 15th–early 16th century
Cross
Ethiopian (Ethiopia)
early 16th century
Pectoral
Ethiopian (Aksum, Ethiopia)
15th century
Psalter
Ethiopian (Tigray, Ethiopia)
15th century
Gunda Gospels manuscript
Ethiopian (Tigray, Ethiopia)
1440–1480
Gospel manuscript with separated leaves
Ethiopian (Northern Highlands, Tigray, Ethiopia)
1510-1530
Double Diptych Icon Pendant
Amhara or Tigrinya peoples
early 18th century
Tray
late 13th–early 14th century
Candlestick Base
first half 14th century
Chalice Case
Coptic (Egypt)
mid 18th– late18th century
Ethiopic Prayer Book
Ethiopian (Gondar, Ethiopia)
17th century
Täʾammərä Maryam (Miracles of Mary)
Ethiopian (Ethiopia)
late 17th century
Prayer Book: Arganonä Maryam (The Organ of Mary)
Attributed to Baselyos (The Ground Hornbill Master) (Amhara, Lasta region, Ethiopian)
late 17th century
Cross with Santa Maria Maggiore Icon
Ethiopian (Ethiopia)
17th century
Triptych with the Virgin and Child, the Archangels Michael and Gabriel, Saints, and Scenes from the Life of Christ
Ethiopian (Ethiopia)
late 17th century
Triptych
Ethiopian (Ethiopia)
late 16th–early 17th century
Virgin and Child in Front of the Basilica Santa Maria Maggiore
Netherlandish (Flanders, Netherlands)
16th century
Wall Painting with Saints Täklä Haymanot and Ewosṭatewos
Ethiopian (Gondar, Ethiopia)
second half 17th century
Wall Painting with Saint Sosənna (Susanna) and Her Persecutors
Ethiopian (Gondar, Ethiopia)
second half 17th century
Wall Painting with Abba Ǝnṭonyos (Saint Anthony) Receiving the Cap and Scapular
Ethiopian (Gondar, Ethiopia)
second half 17th century
Wall Painting with Saint Filatäwos (Philotheos of Antioch)
Ethiopian (Gondar, Ethiopia)
second half 17th century
Wall Painting with a Priest of Heaven
Ethiopian (Gondar, Ethiopia)
second half 17th century
Healing Scroll
Amhara or Tigrinya peoples
19th century
Healing Scroll
Tigrinya peoples
18th–19th century
Aberash | አበራሽ | You Give Light II
Tsedaye Makonnen (Ethiopian-American, born 1984)
2023
Theo Eshetu Video Install- The Return of the Axum Obelisk
Theo Eshetu
2009
Nefsé Nets’a Mawt’at Däbtäras | ነፍስን : ነፃ : ማውጣት :: ደብተራ :: | The Soul Is Set Free Magic Scrolls I–V
Tsedaye Makonnen (Ethiopian-American, born 1984)
2023
Tsehai | ፀሐይ | Sunlight
Tsedaye Makonnen (Ethiopian-American, born 1984)
2023