Curtain

This 1,500-year-old cloth was made by a Christian Egyptian weaver to be used as a sanctuary curtain in a Coptic church or monastery. It probably served later as a burial pall to cover the coffin of an important person. Because Egypt's climate is conducive to textile preservation, the fabric was still in good condition when it was unearthed. Patches where the cloth was mended can still be seen.

With its many symbolic images, this curtain is among the most important early Christian fabrics that survive today. The combination of a wreath, traditionally awarded to winners of competitions, and the Latin cross, which refers to Christ's crucifixion, was meant to symbolize victory over death and the joy of everlasting life.