ROMAN PERIOD, CIRCA 4TH CENTURY A.D.

The garland of flowers in the subject's right hand represents the regeneration of nature and brings with it the aspiration of rebirth for the deceased. The grapes in his left refer to Bacchus, who like the Egyptian god Osiris, gave hope of resurrection and regeneration. Similar attributes are carried by subjects of Fayum portraits (K. Parlasca and H. Seemann, Augenblicke: Mumienporträts und ägyptische Grabkunst aus römischer Zeit, Munich, 1999, p. 293).

For a related example, thought to be from Antinopolis or Oxyrhynchos, see no. 152 in A. Wiese, et al., Antikenmuseum Basel und Sammlung Ludwig, Die Ägyptische Abteilung.