Война технологий, адаптация или заимствования в текстильной традиции? К вопросу о последствиях сасанидского завоевания Египта
A War of Technology, Adaptation or Adoption in a Textile Tradition? To the Question of the Consequences of the Sassanid Conquest of Egypt

Summary/Abstract: Despite relatively short period of Sasanian occupation of Egypt, there is much evidence of their influence upon Egyptian material culture, and especially, textile production. Sasanian and post-Sasanian influence was manifested in different fields related to textiles in general: changes in costume and ‘fashion’, appearing of neatly tailored garments, introduction of new textile techniques and iconographical features. Egyptian weavers started drawing inspiration from new images and subjects. The question is how deep that influence got into the Egyptian textile production weaving techniques? The studies of textile objects from the Egyptian necropolises of Late Antiquity demonstrate the controversial nature of Sasanian occupation of Egypt. Certainly, it contributed to expansion of the Central Asian influence. At the same time, this influence was not spread by force. At some point, a certain technical feature or iconographical motif alien for Egyptian culture, became fashionable, later to be adopted and considered autochthonous. Egyptians developed new weaving techniques inspired by colorful and fancy Near Eastern models. The Egyptian-Persian workshops imitated some Central Asian techniques, but provincial weavers and tailors copied just shapes. The finished textiles and dress were not imitations of original costumes but rather copies of copies.

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