Antiquities Circle Lecture: An Introduction to Coptic Religion and Art

An Introduction to Coptic Religion and Art

Egyptologist and Critical Art Historian Dr. Robert Steven Bianchi returns to the Tampa Museum of Art for a lecture on the art and religion of the early Christian community in Egypt. As Dr. Bianchi will explain in this lecture, the noun “Copt” and the adjective “Coptic” are ultimately derived the ancient Egyptian phrase Hut-ka-Ptah, “the temple of Ptah,” which was used to refer to the city of Memphis as a substitute for Egypt as a whole. Over time, the word “Copt” came to identify the native Egyptians who converted to Christianity in the early centuries of the Roman Imperial Period.

The lecture will trace the growth of the Christian community in Egypt. From the traditional founding of the Church by Saint Mark, during the early centuries, the Copts were part of the Roman Empire. They shared a common material culture with their polytheistic neighbors that derived in part from pharaonic Egypt, as well as Greece and Rome. During the 3rd century, the Copts suffered severely during the religious persecution of Christians. After the promulgation of religious tolerance (313 ce) and then the establishment of Christianity as the only recognized religion (380 bce), the Coptic community flourished. Even into the Islamic Period, many Coptic traditions were allowed to continue uninterruptedly. Today, there is still a thriving, vibrant Coptic community in Egypt.

As the co-creator and host of a planned documentary series on the intellectual legacy of the city of Alexandria, Dr. Bianchi will moreover share recent underwater discoveries of exciting archaeological remains which have tentatively been identified as architectural fragments belonging to an original church associated with Saint Mark. Those finds set the stage for the discussion about the material culture of Egypt’s Coptic Period within the context of the Roman Imperial and early Medieval Periods in which many of the objects on view in this exhibition were created. Referring to a psali-Adam dated to the period between the 17th and 19th century, which is on view in the exhibition, Dr. Bob will summarize the development of the Coptic language and proceed to discuss aspects of doctrinal differences against the background of some of the opulently preserved Coptic Churches in Egypt today, notable among which is the magnificent Red Monastery in Sohag.

Lectures are offered free with admission to the museum:

• Art+ Museum Members: Free
• Not-Yet-Members: $25
• College Students: Free