LATE ANTIQUE TEXTILES FROM THE BENAKI MUSEUM COLLECTION IN ATHENS: ARTISTIC INFLUENCES AND INTERCULTURAL INTERACTIONS

Abstract

The aim of this article is to conduct a comprehensive study of Late Antique textile artifacts from the collection of the Benaki Museum in Athens as an important source for the study of the artistic and technological traditions of the Eastern Mediterranean in the 4th–7th centuries CE. The analysis focuses not only on the characteristics of the collection itself, its provenance, and conditions of preservation, but also on a detailed examination of the materials, weaving techniques, decorative motifs, subjects, and iconography that define the distinctive features of these textile artifacts. Particular emphasis is placed on identifying and interpreting the sources of artistic inspiration reflected in the design of the textiles, which reveal the interaction of Classical, Egyptian, Coptic, and early Christian cultural traditions. The primary objective of the research is to determine which artistic, religious, and cultural influences shaped the visual system of Late Antique textiles and how these influences manifested themselves in the decorative and applied arts of this period. In this context, special attention is paid to tracing the synthesis of the iconographic heritage of Classical Antiquity with new symbolic motifs of early Christianity, as well as to examining the interaction between local Egyptian traditions and broader artistic trends, particularly those associated with the textiles of Central Asia, including Sasanian Iran. The consideration of these influences makes it possible to demonstrate how artistic motifs originating in different cultural environments were transformed within textile art and how the artifacts preserved in the Benaki Museum collection reflect the complex processes of cultural synthesis characteristic of Late Antiquity. Among the key tasks of the study are the identification of the provenance of individual textile pieces, the determination of their place within the development of Coptic and early Christian art, and the examination of the role of technological and stylistic features in shaping their artistic traditions. Another important aspect is the analysis of ornamental and narrative compositions that combine elements of Classical mythology, symbolism, and secular themes. The study also aims to characterize the decorative features of the textile fragments and to identify parallels with monuments of other artistic media. Particular attention is devoted to the analysis of selected artifacts from the collection, which makes it possible to trace the artistic diversity of Late Antique textiles and their connections with the artistic centers of the Eastern Mediterranean. The implementation of these research objectives contributes to clarifying underexplored aspects of the history of textile production and emphasizes the importance of the Benaki Museum collection as a significant source for the study of cultural interactions and the transformation of artistic traditions during the transition from Antiquity to the Middle Ages.