Tapestry with a Girl's Head, from Egypt: 6th century AD

The central rectangle shows a female figure with long earrings, holding a mirror and dressing her hair. The bright colours and huge eyes of the girl are typical of Coptic art, that is, artistic productions of Christian Egypt.

It is possible that the woman represents the goddess Aphrodite (Venus), symbolising female beauty.

© 1998 Oxfordshire Museum Service, Setúbal Museums and the Benaki Museum