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An off-white rectangular textile fragment with a purple design showing a nereid, dancers, and charioteers, some in roundels or squares, bordered by a vertical stripe and a pattern of plants, animals, and urns.

A rectangular textile fragment with a yellowed, undyed background and a purple design. From the top, the central motif, flanked by vertical purple stripes, shows a man with a horse, a nereid holding a lyre and riding a sea creature surrounded by a circular border, a female dancer flanked by two male dancers, a rabbit next to another animal, and the top half of two charioteers in a square purple border.

Identification and Creation

Object Number
1985.121
Title
Textile Fragment: Nereid with Dancers and Charioteers
Classification
Textile Arts
Work Type
textile
Date
5th-6th century
Places
Creation Place: Ancient & Byzantine World, Africa, Egypt (Ancient)
Period
Byzantine period, Early
Culture
Egyptian
Persistent Link
https://hvrd.art/o/179106

Location

Location
Level 3, Room 3620, University Study Gallery
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Physical Descriptions

Medium
Wool
Technique
Tapestry
Dimensions
23.5 x 17.1 cm (9 1/4 x 6 3/4 in)

Acquisition and Rights

Credit Line
Harvard Art Museums/Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Gift of Nanette B. Rodney
Accession Year
1985
Object Number
1985.121
Division
Asian and Mediterranean Art
Contact
am_asianmediterranean@harvard.edu
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Descriptions

Description
Within a medallion, a nereid holding a lyre rides a sea creature. Above her, a man wearing a riding coat stands in front of a horse or mythical animal. Beneath the nereid is a female dancer flanked by two male dancers. Under the dancers are two animals, a rabbit and either a hound or a lion. At the bottom are the remains of two charioteers. The border contains a row of human heads in addition to animals and plants in an architectural motif.

Dark blue and undyed wool.

Exhibition History

  • 32Q: 3740 Egyptian, Harvard Art Museums, Cambridge, 05/12/2015 - 11/17/2015
  • 32Q: 3620 University Study Gallery, Harvard Art Museums, Cambridge, 08/31/2024 - 01/05/2025

Verification Level

This record was created from historic documentation and may not have been reviewed by a curator; it may be inaccurate or incomplete. Our records are frequently revised and enhanced. For more information please contact the Division of Asian and Mediterranean Art at am_asianmediterranean@harvard.edu