Gold Threads Across Empires: Techniques, Symbols, and Cultural Exchange from the Ancient Near East to Byzantium

Date: Thursday, 12 June 2025 Time: 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM  Venue: Robert de Sorbon Amphitheatre, SUAD Campus
The history of gold threads in the Near and Middle East, from Antiquity to Byzantium, reveals the technical ingenuity and symbolic richness of the societies that produced them. From the Bronze Age in Syria and later in the Persian Empire, gold thread emerged as a marker of prestige, power, and spirituality, adorning garments, tapestries, and works of art. Technical innovations-from beating gold into thin leaves to winding it around silk or linen threads-spread and were perfected, especially in Byzantium, where woven gold became both an instrument of diplomacy and a vector of sacredness. State control over production and the specialization of artisans underscore the economic and social significance of this craft. Beyond their material value, gold threads embodied divine light and the continuity of tradition, serving as tools of social cohesion and identity. This presentation offers a synthesis of the techniques, uses, and meanings of gold thread, highlighting its role in shaping societies and cultural imaginaries from the ancient Near East to the Byzantine Empire. By attending this event, you agree to your image being captured and used in event photos and videos for promotional purposes. Please fill-in the registration form below to confirm your participation on campus[:]