by Mona F. Ali and Marian M. Youssef
ABSTRACT
In the present study, a comprehensive investigation has been undertaken into an Egyptian Coptic fresco with geometric decoration and the reasons for its damage. It dates back to the 6th century AD and was initially located in the Saint Apollo monastery south Egypt in Asyut, and currently it is found at the Cop-tic Museum, Cairo. The analytical instruments used for investigation were portable digital microscope, Fourier transforms infrared coupled with attenuated total reflectance FTIR-ATR, scanning electron mi-croscopy with EDX, X-ray diffraction and Optical microscope. The results indicated that the painting was executed in a true fresco technique, which prepared on mud brick support with ground consisting of gypsum with a small percentage of lime, hematite used as red color and carbon used as black color.
