Alexander the Great’s conquest of Egypt ushered in an era of Hellenistic influence that continued even after the Romans defeated Cleopatra.
This portrait of an elegant woman dressed in Greco-Roman fashion is painted in the Hellenistic portrait tradition. From the three-quarter view of her face to the subtle shadows rendered in paint, this image differs greatly from traditional Egyptian art. Nevertheless, panels of this kind were part of the mummy’s wrappings and attached over the face.
The Arab’s conquest of Egypt in A.D. 641 ended Greco-Roman rule and brought Islam and the Arabic language to Egypt. A new era in Egyptian history and culture had begun.
