Capital

The stylized acanthus leaves of this column capital were once vibrant with color. We can still see traces of yellow and red pigments with the naked eye. Although we do not know what building this capital adorned, the rest of the architecture was likely richly colored as well.

This architectural fragment and missing structure were produced during the Byzantine period in Egypt. This period, beginning in the fourth century CE, is named for Emperor Constantine’s movement of the imperial capital from Rome to “Byzantion” (modern-day Istanbul). The political reach of the Byzantine Empire was vast, encompassing parts of Africa, Asia, and Europe. North Africa was a leading producer of grain during the Roman and Byzantine empires, making it one of the wealthiest, most economically vital, and most important centers of learning in antiquity.