ИСТИНА

It is generally well-known that a certain amount of Egyptian Late Antique – Early medieval textiles were influenced by the Sassanians’ textile traditions and techniques. Persian influence was manifested in different fields related to textiles in general: changes in costume and ‘fashion’, appearing of neatly tailored garments, introduction of new textile techniques and iconographical features. Egyptian weavers started to draw inspiration from new images and subjects. The question is how deep that influence got into Egyptian art craft and weaving techniques? Was it a subject of fashion in rather big and multicultural centers such as Antinoe or have had general impact all over Egypt? The other questions refer to the field of techniques. If the Egyptians adopted foreign weaving methods and techniques or they developed new ones being inspired by brightness and striking novelty of foreign beauty? Or was it indeed alien for them at that time? Different textile finds from the site of Deir al-Banat, a rather remote and provincial place, are important evidences of wide spreading of Persian influence in Egyptian textile craft and of a local adaptation of foreign motifs and techniques.