Symbolism is one of the most important features of Christian art in general, and Coptic art in particular.

 Many studies have discussed the role of symbolism, its causes, and its significance in Coptic art. However, most of these studies dealt with discussing the symbolism of decorative elements, and this research paper aims to study the symbolic purposes of the Iconographic themes on a number of applied artifacts discovered in Akhmim, made of various materials such as: (textile, and pottery(
The importance of these Iconographic themes is that they do not tell a story, narrate a biography, or depict a specific scene, and it is also difficult to classify them under a specific name, as these themes are considered complex symbolic themes. By combining two or more decorative elements, the artist wanted to symbolize a specific idea or topic that does not have a fixed appearance that indicates it. The artistic composition of the subject is what gives its idea, but if these elements are separated, then Iconographic themes loses the purpose that it intends and expresses.