Origin: Egypt, Alexandria, Type: border fragment,
Period: 4th-5th Centuries
Warp: Wool pattern wefts on natural woolen warps slit tapestry
technique with curved wefts and twined outlines. 13 warps/cm.
Design: Square tunic panel with a main border
of quater foils within lappets and lozenge corner elements; inner
plain border. Two-tone field with a vigorous vine scroll and rabbits
and lions(?), centering a roundel of two mounted warriors and
two running foot soldiers. Remains on top are balanced with a
plain weave finish and loop decoration. The active riding and
running figures are still recognisably Hellenistic in origin and
have not yet degenerated into gnomic munchkins of later examples.
The inhabited vinescroll also still displays a classical character;
hence a date within the 4th or 5th Century is likely.
Colors: Beige, purple-red.
