Coptic. Stela of Tsanna, 8th century C.E. Limestone, pigment, 17 11/16 x 13 3/8 x 3 5/16 in. (45 x 34 x 8.4 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 69.74.2. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 69.74.2.jpg)
Coptic. Stela of Tsanna, 8th century C.E. Limestone, pigment, 17 11/16 x 13 3/8 x 3 5/16 in. (45 x 34 x 8.4 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 69.74.2. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 69.74.2_PS1.jpg)
Coptic. Stela of Tsanna, 8th century C.E. Limestone, pigment, 17 11/16 x 13 3/8 x 3 5/16 in. (45 x 34 x 8.4 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 69.74.2. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, CUR.69.74.2_unearthing_coptic.jpg)
Coptic. Stela of Tsanna, 8th century C.E. Limestone, pigment, 17 11/16 x 13 3/8 x 3 5/16 in. (45 x 34 x 8.4 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 69.74.2. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 69.74.2_bw.jpg)
Coptic. Stela of Tsanna, 8th century C.E. Limestone, pigment, 17 11/16 x 13 3/8 x 3 5/16 in. (45 x 34 x 8.4 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 69.74.2. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum (in collaboration with Index of Christian Art, Princeton University), CUR.69.74.2_detail01_ICA.jpg)
Coptic. Stela of Tsanna, 8th century C.E. Limestone, pigment, 17 11/16 x 13 3/8 x 3 5/16 in. (45 x 34 x 8.4 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 69.74.2. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum (in collaboration with Index of Christian Art, Princeton University), CUR.69.74.2_view1_ICA.jpg)
Stela of Tsanna
These two Christian stelae, made after the Arabs conquered Egypt in 642 c.e., reflect new styles from the East. The larger example (71.39.1), which has lost its top section, would have decorated a tomb wall much like the woven wall hangings in homes. Here, exuberant vegetal motifs almost submerge the small crosses. The round-topped stela (69.74.2), which has two lionlike animals in Eastern style and no Christian symbols at all, was made for a woman whose name, Suzanna, indicates that she was Christian. Her father's name, Pachons, suggest that he was not Christian, a possibility that may explain the lack of Christian imagery here.
This text refers to these objects: 69.74.2; 71.39.1
CULTURE Coptic
MEDIUM Limestone, pigment
Place Found: Esna, Egypt
DATES 8th century C.E.
PERIOD Umayyad Period to Tulunid Period
DIMENSIONS 17 11/16 x 13 3/8 x 3 5/16 in. (45 x 34 x 8.4 cm) (show scale)
INSCRIPTIONS Epitaph in Coptic, "Tsanna [Suzanne] (daughter of) Pachôns," as translated by the Index of Christian Art.
ACCESSION NUMBER 69.74.2
CAPTION Coptic. Stela of Tsanna, 8th century C.E. Limestone, pigment, 17 11/16 x 13 3/8 x 3 5/16 in. (45 x 34 x 8.4 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 69.74.2. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 69.74.2.jpg)
IMAGE overall, 69.74.2.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph
8th century
8th century C.E.
Arab Influence
Red paint traces
round-topped stela