Fayum mummy portrait 

This is a Fayum mummy portrait painted on linen cloth sometime between 50 and 250 AD in Roman Egypt. These portraits offer a fascinating glimpse into the cultural melting pot of Roman Egypt, where ancient Egyptian funerary traditions met Roman portraiture styles. The tradition of mummification, an ancient Egyptian practice, was combined with a Roman taste for individualized representation. Wealthy members of the elite would commission these portraits to be placed over the face of the mummy. The creation of these portraits required skilled artists, and the patronage of a wealthy class able to afford such luxuries. Through this image, we can consider the dynamics of power, wealth, and cultural exchange that defined Roman Egypt. Historians rely on archaeological findings, and cultural artifacts to reconstruct the social contexts of the past, and shed light on these portraits. Through this research, we can better understand the complex interplay of cultures and traditions that shaped the art of this time.