“Childhood in Coptic Art” from the Fourth Century to the Tenth Century AD. (Historical and Archaeological Study)

Abstract

The Copts celebrated the feasts that belonged to the life of Jesus Christ and imitated them. They celebrated the birth of a child, circumcised their male children and baptized them. The baptism of the infants is recognized in Egypt before the fourth century due to the discovery of the baptistery of children. It is evident that the family had an affective factor that shaped the identity of the Coptic child. The Copts encouraged their children to learn the theological education in the schools that belong to monasteries. Besides, there was “the Holy Palace” that established in every home for worship and reading. Therefore, there were many educated boys and girls affected on the Coptic history. It is worth mentioning that the child first practiced individual letters and then the alphabet, syllables, words, and names. They used to practice in poor quality of ostraca or papyrus without any interesting in grammar. There were many mistakes in some of the texts. The common method of education was the dictation that continued from Ancient Egypt until now. The wax board or the waxed wood panel is a perfect school codex because the pupil was able to reuse “re-cycle” it again. While more experienced students used to writing boards of small wooden plaster-covered planks and signed their names on them.