religion:

bread stamps in ancient egypt

Stamps and Symbols

After the introduction of Catholicism religious symbols, verses of scripture, and other religious icons were stamped onto bread and cakes. These stamps were likely used for decoration and not sacrifice, to remind those eating the bread to remember the Coptic teachings.

This tradition of honoring God through the baking and eating of bread can still be seen today in Eucharist wafers. Religious iconography is stamped onto wafers to symbolize Jesus and the teachings of the church. Religious candles are also packaged with images of saints and other religious figures like the Holy Spirit. Images of saints, bible verses, and Jesus are stamped onto steel medallions to be worn by devotees.

Clay circular bread stamp with image of a fish.

Coptic Egyptian Bread Stamp

Circular flat brad stamp 7 cm x 6.5 cm made of terracotta. The Milwaukee Public Museum has determined the stamp depicts a fish. It has been dated to the 1st - 3rd century CE.

Credit: Permission for use granted by the Milwaukee Public Museum

Clay circular bread stamp with image of a crocodile.

Coptic Egyptian Bread Stamp

Circular flat bread stamp 6.75cm x 6.9 cm made of yellow clay. The stamp resembles the aerial view of a crocodile. The vertical line represents a line of water where crocodiles lift their nose and eyes to breathe and see. This stamp has been dated from the 1st - 3rd century CE.

Credit: Permission for use granted by the Milwaukee Public Museum

Clay circular bread stamp with letters in a circle on it.

Untranslated Coptic Egpytion Bread Stamp

Red clay, circular, domed, bread stamp 4.25 cm x 4.5 cm. The stamp has a hole in the handle used to string rope through to hang on the wall of a bakery. The lettering on the stamp begins from the top and reads clockwise: AV E Ξ V. There is no confirmed translation at the moment. This stamp has been dated from the 1st - 3rd century CE.

Credit: Permission for use granted by the Milwaukee Public Museum

Religious Offerings

Metal bread stamp in the shape of a foot with letters on it.

Example of decorative bread stamp used in offerings to the gods to ask for healing.

Image Credit: Wikipedia Commons. 2016. Bronze bread stamp, Byzantine, 4th-6th century.

The Loulis Museum in Attica, Greece references bread and grains used in ritualistic sacrifice and religious rituals to honor Demeter, the goddess of agriculture, Kore, otherwise known as Persephone the goddess of spring and harvest, and Asclepius, the god of medicine. The bread sacrificed to Aeschylus was imprinted with specific votive stamps indicating death, health, or both.

Metal bread stamp in the shape of a pointed boot with letters on it.

Example of decorative bread stamp used in offerings to the gods to ask for healing. Translated as "LIFE". Image Credit: Wikipedia Commons. 2011. Bronze bread stamps, Byzantine, 5th-6th century.

Votives were objects or symbols used as offerings in religious rituals. In Ancient Rome, they were usually gifts or favors to the gods in exchange for healing miracles.