Fayum Mummy Portrait 

This painted panel showing a woman was made in Roman Egypt between the first and third centuries CE. This is one of a number of so-called Fayum mummy portraits. These portraits give us a glimpse into the complex cultural interactions of the time. Egypt was under Roman rule, but retained its own customs and beliefs. The elite class adopted elements of Roman culture, but also maintained their Egyptian identity. These portraits were placed over the faces of mummies and were commissioned for a fee, showing the blending of Roman portraiture with Egyptian funerary traditions. Note the woman’s Roman hairstyle and jewelry that indicate status. To understand these objects, we need to study both Roman and Egyptian history, as well as the social and economic conditions of Roman Egypt. The study of these objects, and others like them, gives us insight into the lives of people who lived in a complex and changing world.