Weaving and Wearing Joseph Tunics in Early Islamic Egypt

This article explores the phenomenon of »Joseph tunics« - linen and wool garments adorned with scenes from the biblical and Qur'anic story of Joseph, which became popular in Egypt during the first three centuries of Islamic rule. It challenges traditional interpretations that assign these tunics to a single religious community (Coptic Christians) and proposes a framework of »religious co-production.« This framework emphasizes the exchange and mutual shaping of narratives, material culture, social practices, and creation of meaning among Christians, Muslims and Jews, in early Islamic Egypt. The article delves into the textual and pictorial archives of Joseph stories across these faiths, highlighting the ways in which they were interwoven and adapted to address diverse theological and social needs. By examining the tunics as multilayered objects of religious co-production, the article offers a new lens through which to understand the complex interactions and cultural dynamics of this multi-religious society and discusses methodological challenges involved in studying objects from the past and historical interactions of religious cultures.

Clothing · Context (archaeology) · Government (linguistics) · Islam · Weaving · Ancient Egypt and Archaeology · Eurasian Exchange Networks · Islamic Studies and History