Description
The evolution of Coptic iconography as a sacred art, tracing its Pharaonic sources,its deeply-rooted theological origins, its artistic embellishments, the miraculous efficacy of certain icons, the universal appeal and symbolism, the marvelous aestheticism, and the linkage between the tangible world and the heavenly unseen kingdom of God. This study is supported with coloured illustrations.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PREFACE..15
Chapter One THE VALUE OF TRADITION..17 Origin in Ancient Egypt..18 Meaning and Expression..18 Chapter Two THE HOLY IMAGE: AN INQUIRY INTO ITS ESSENCE AND EVOLUTION..23 Chapter Three BASIC DISTINCTIONS..29 Distinction between a Picture and an Icon..29 Distinction between the Pastoral Staff and the Rod..29 Distinct Symbolic Characteristics of the Prophets of the Old Testament and the Apostles of the New Testament..30 Iconographic Representation in Orthodox and Catholic Churches..30 The Ankh of Ancient Egypt and the Christian Cross..31 Chapter Four THE TRANSITIONAL PERIO..37 Pharaonisms and Christian Transformations..37 The Permanence of Pharaonic and Coptic Art..37 Chapter Five ICONOGRAPHIC ART..39 The Encaustic Technique..39 The Tempera Technique..40 Chapter Six EARLY COPTIC ICONOGRAPHY..43 Chapter Seven THE CARVING OF WOOD..47 Use of Tesserae of Glass..48 The Iconostasis..48 Chapter Eight ILLUMINATED MANUSCRIPTS, CANVAS AND PARCHMENT..51 Chapter Nine THE ASSUMPTIONS OF THE ICONOCLASTS..55 Chapter Ten WHAT DOES THE ICON REPRESENT?..59 Chapter Eleven CONSECRATION OF ICONS..61 Chapter Twelve VENERATION OF MIRACULOUS ICONS..65 Chapter Thirteen EMPHASIS ON THE REALITIES OF OUR ORTHODOX FAITH..75 Emphasis on Orthodox Dogma and the Tenets of Faith..75 The Realities of our Faith in God..75 Chapter Fourteen SYMBOLISM AND ITS UNIVERSALITY..77 Symbolism in Coptic Iconographic Art..77 Symbolism Significance..77 Symbolism of the Holy Family..77 Divine Truth and the Symbolic Function of an Icon..79 The Link between the Visible and the Invisible..79 The Symbolism of Early Pictorial Art..80 The Universality of Symbolic Representation..80 Chapter Fifteen SYMBOLIC REPRESENTATION OF OUR LORD IN ICONOGRAPHIC ART..83 Chapter Sixteen THE NIMBUS IN COPTIC ICONOGRAPHY..85 Chapter Seventeen INTERPRETATION OF COLOUR SYMBOLISM..87 Chapter Eighteen ICONOGRAPHIC REPRESENTATION..95 Art Representation of the Soul..95 The Angels in Coptic Iconography..95 Chapter Nineteen THE THEME OF MARTYRDOM Martyrdom and Coptic Iconography..99 Chapter Twenty INTERPRETATION OF BEAST, POULTRY AND BIRD SYMBOLISM Beast Symbolism in Coptic Iconography..101 Poultry and Bird Symbolism..103 Plant Symbolism..104 Chapter Twenty-one NATURAL RESOURCES Symbolic Interpretation of Natural Resources..111 Chapter Twenty-two TAPESTRY AND ICONOGRAPHY..117 Chapter Twenty-three POTTERY AND ICONOGRAPHY..121 Chapter Twenty-four THE ESSENCE OF COPTIC ICONOGRAPHY Influence of the Iconographic Art of the Copts..123 CONCLUSION..127
