Body language of the holy virgin Mary in Coptic iconography

Abstract EN

The Holy Virgin Mary has always been an inspiration to iconographers and sculptors through ages.

She is widely represented in Coptic art in themes like the annunciation, the nativity, the crucifixion, the flight to Egypt, and the entombment.

In such paintings, the Holy Virgin is shown with varied facial and physical gestures, denoting different meanings.

Yet her body language changes from a scene to another.

The iconographical themes of the Holy Virgin are drawn from the narrations of the Holy Book and sometimes the interpretations of the church fathers.

The artists executed the iconographical themes associated with the Holy Virgin Mary based on their understanding of the biblical text, their culture background, and the surroundings.

This paper focuses on the interpretation of the body language or the non-verbal communication of the Holy Virgin Mary in Coptic iconography.

It attempts to classify Her different poses, gestures, and clothes.