Analytical Study for Coptic Wall Painting in Mazar El-Khorogin Bagawat Tombs – Wady El Gaded – Egypt

Abstract

This research is to study the chemical composition of the wall paintings in Mazar El- Khorog in Bagawat tombs for the first time. The paper presents the mineral structure for the support, plaster and pigments by using SEM- EDS, XRD, FTIR, and DTA. The results show that the support is a Kaolinite (Al2Si2O5(OH)4) as a major mineral and both of Quartz (SiO2) and Gypsum (CaSO4.2H2O) as trace minerals.The thin layer of the plaster was contained Quartz addition to Gypsum and a little of Calcite (CaCO3).The white pigment was containing of a mix of Gypsum and a Dolomite powder (CaMg(CO3)2, the orange pigment was containing from Geothite (FeOOH), the brown pigment was containing from Hematite (Fe2O3) and Graphite (C ), The Black Pigment was a Graphite , and the Green Pigment was from the Celadonite.The result shows that the wall painting was prepared without medium which means that the wall painting technique is a Fresco Technique.

Keywords

• coptic
• wall painting
• fresco
• restoration
• conservation