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Gallery Talk: Seeking Divine Answers in Sixth-Century Egypt

Two open, square pages of a miniature book, containing multiple lines of Coptic writing.
Gospel of the Lots of Mary, Coptic, Early Byzantine period, 6th century. Ink on sheepskin vellum. Harvard Art Museums/Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Gift of Mrs. Beatrice Kelekian in memory of her husband, Charles Dikran Kelekian, 1984.669.

Gallery Talk

In-Person
Harvard Art Museums
32 Quincy Street, Cambridge, MA

This event does not require registration; see further details below.

Join Chance Bonar, former graduate curatorial intern, as he explores the sixth-century miniature book the Gospel of the Lots of Mary—a prominent example of divinatory texts and oracles from early Byzantine Egypt (395–642 CE). Bonar will share what oracles and divination in the ancient world were like and how religious practitioners sought out answers to their questions from gods through texts, rituals, and physical materials.

This gallery talk is part of our New on View series, highlighting recent gallery installations and presenting new insights into recent acquisitions or old favorites.

Led by:
Chance Bonar, Postdoctoral Fellow at the Center for the Humanities, Tufts University; former graduate curatorial intern, Division of Asian and Mediterranean Art, Harvard Art Museums

Please check in with museum staff at the Visitor Services desk in the Calderwood Courtyard to request to join the gallery talk. Talks are limited to 18 people and are available on a first-come, first-served basis; no registration is required.

The Harvard Art Museums offer free admission every day, Tuesday through Sunday. Please see the museum visit page to learn about our general policies for visiting the museums.

The Harvard Art Museums are committed to accessibility for all visitors. For anyone requiring accessibility accommodations for our programs, please contact us at am_register@harvard.edu at least 48 hours in advance.