Figure 18 - uploaded by Stephen Snyder
Content may be subject to copyright.
Source publication
This essay discusses the mounted image of St. George slaying an emperor within the broader context of how and why early Christian images were transformed and adapted to the early Byzantine religious style. The representational framework of Arthur Danto's philosophical system is used to tie together the threads of this research. By drawing parallels...
Citations
Originality: Weapons, particularly the spear, lance, sword and the protective shield appeared on a great scale in Coptic paintings as early as the fourth century onwards. These scenes are usually found on the walls of churches and monasteries, in which the military saint appears, riding his horse, carrying a spear in his hand, stabbing one of the enemies. Moreover, archangels were frequently depicted with spears, swords in their hands. Weapons were also depicted in Biblical scenes inspired from the Old Testament particularly scenes of the Massacre of the Innocents, the conflict of David with Saul and Goliath and the sacrifices of Abraham and Jephthah. Rare hunting scenes show the bows and arrows as weaponry tools. However, prior researches had shed light on these scenes without analyzing the iconography of every weapon in detail. Recent studies did not examine the parallels and contrasts between the depicted weapons nor the concept of every weapon. From this point on, the significance of this study is undeniable in that it approaches the concept and iconography of weapons in Coptic paintings according to the context and artistic iconography.
Objectives: The present paper aims to study and analyze the artistic features of weapons illustrated in Coptic paintings. Furthermore, the paper aims to study the context of the depicted weapons to approach the concept of every weapon in detail. The study also analyzes the accompanying body postures of the weapon’s carrier and his opponent and their symbolism.
Methodology: To approach the previous aims, the descriptive approach was followed in giving a comprehensive account concerning the origin, concept as well the iconography of every weapon in detail. Furthermore, the researchers used the comparative analytical approach to trace the similarities and differences between the weapons and to trace the development in representing every weapon in Coptic art till the thirteenth century AD.
KEYWORDS: weapon, Coptic, painting, saint, monastery, biblical scenes
