---
title: "H9233 Coptic Art and Archaeology · St Cyril’s"
url: https://stcyrils.edu.au/units/h9233-coptic-art-and-archaeology
description: "This course is a survey of Coptic art, archaeology and architecture. Coptic monasteries were rich sites of many cultural exchanges as manifested in their…"
---

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4. H9233

H9233

# Coptic Art and Archaeology

Code

H9233

Level

Postgraduate

Weighting

9 credit points

Type

Foundational

Discipline

Church History

Mode

Online (live/asynchronous)

Lecturer

[Dr. Ramez B. Boutros](https://stcyrils.edu.au/faculty/ramez-boutros)

On this page

1. [Prerequisites, corequisites or exclusions](#prerequisites-corequisites-or-exclusions)
2. [Academic Staff](#academic-staff)
3. [Curriculum Objectives](#curriculum-objectives)
4. [Learning Outcomes](#learning-outcomes)
5. [Content](#content)
6. [Weekly Syllabus](#weekly-syllabus)

Last offered in **Semester 2, 2026**. See the [timetable and key dates](https://stcyrils.edu.au/timetable) for dates, or [enrol online](https://stcyrils.edu.au/enrol) when enrolments open.

## Prerequisites, corequisites or exclusions

Nil

## Academic Staff

Dr Ramez Boutros; License of Mediaeval Studies (P.I.M.S., Toronto 2010); PhD. (Strasbourg, 2002); Lecturer, University Toronto

## Curriculum Objectives

This course is a survey of Coptic art, archaeology and architecture. Coptic monasteries were rich sites of many cultural exchanges as manifested in their architecture and religious art. In addition to the religious themes, the course will cover some aspects of the civil and daily life of the Copts: their houses, religious architecture, funerary monuments, art and artefacts.

## Learning Outcomes

At the end of this unit students will be able to:

1\. Plan and execute a research project about any aspect of the Coptic Art; or the Church construction in Egypt; or the early monastic buildings, or the techniques of construction known in the field of Coptic architecture  
2\. Use technical and communication skills to analyse and theorise the developments of the main characteristics of the Coptic Art and interpret its symbols  
3\. Demonstrate mastery of knowledge to reflect critically on theory and professional practice in the field of Coptic archaeology and the modern methods applied in the excavations  
4\. Investigate, analyse and synthesise complex information and data about Coptic artefacts applied on different media and interpret their function  
5\. Use communication and technical research skills to interpret theoretical propositions, methodologies, conclusions and professional decisions to specialist and non-specialist readers

## Content

1\. The construction of churches and monastic architecture in Egypt (from 4th to 12th century)  
2\. Christian Pilgrimage sites  
3\. Occupation and conversion of ancient Egyptian temples  
4\. Samples of Funerary Art and Architecture  
5\. Coptic archaeological excavation (different findings)  
6\. Iconography (Wall paintings, icons)  
7\. Architectural decoration  
8\. Manuscript Making

## Weekly Syllabus

**Week 1** Political and Religious Chronology of Egypt. Terminology of Coptic Architecture  
_Introduction to course unit_

**Week 2** The Architecture of churches in Egypt (from the 4th to 12th century)  
_Origins of the Church plan, and typology of the architecture of Churches in Egypt_

**Week 3** Early Monastic Buildings  
_Brief introduction to the origins of monasticism and its different orders reflected in the early monastic architecture_

**Week 4** Early Christian Pilgrimage sites in Egypt  
_Traveling conditions and pilgrim expectations. Literary and archaeological sources_

**Week 5** Urban settlements and churches built inside Egyptian temple enclosures  
_Coptic Towns. Ancient Egyptian temples converted to Christianity_

**Week 6** Funerary Art and Architecture  
_Funerary Sculpture. The architecture and wall paintings in Coptic cemeteries_

**Week 7** Excavations of Coptic archaeological sites  
_The major old excavations of Coptic sites (early 20th century). Some recent excavations_

**Week 8** Coptic Ceramics  
_Introduction to the Coptic Pottery production and its decoration_

**Week 9** Coptic Art  
_Ambiguity in terminology. Origins and Characteristics of Coptic Art. Samples of application on various media_

**Week 10** Architectural decoration (stone and wood carving reliefs)

**Week 11** Iconography (Wall paintings, icons)

**Week 12** Manuscript Making  
_Worldwide Coptic Manuscript Collections in Museums and Universities; Coptic Manuscript in Monastery Libraries_

---
St Cyril’s Coptic Orthodox Theological College · 6/252–254 West Street, Carlton NSW 2218, Australia · +61 2 9546 6411 · registrar@stcyrils.edu.au
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