Between closed and opened: the iconography of the semi-closed doors in Alexandrian funerary art
2025, 34, No. 1
Alexandria University, Faculty of Tourism and Hotels
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Abstract
The iconography of semi-closed doors first appeared on tombstones and loculus slabs from Alexandrian tombs, such as those at el-Shatby and el-Hadara. This motif was often accompanied by other Greco-Egyptian elements, including jackals flanking the door, the griffin of Nemesis, the cobra, and the falcon of Horus. The semi-closed door was typically surmounted by a pediment and a dentil frieze. Alexandrian altars featuring this motif appear as early as the Imperial period. This paper traces the origin and artistic variation of this iconography through a close analysis of the relevant objects. It explores the religious symbolism, thematic context, and artistic conventions of the motif. In doing so, this paper seeks to interpret this iconography and its origin as one of the unique scenes found in the profane art of Alexandria.
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