Archaeologists discover ancient city in Egypt that was center of early Christianity
In central Egypt, in the oasis of Kharga, archaeologists discovered an ancient city that was the center of early Christianity. The city dates back to the early Coptic period – between the 3rd and 7th centuries AD. About this informs Art News with reference to the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities of Egypt.
Two churches were located on the territory of the find – the largest structures of the ancient settlement. One of them was built in the form of a basilica with a central nave and side aisles, the other was smaller, rectangular in shape, and contained inner walls with Coptic inscriptions. A fresco depicting Jesus Christ healing people was also discovered among the artifacts.
In addition to religious buildings, archaeologists have excavated the remains of residential buildings built of mud bricks, burials, clay jars used to store grain and food, as well as furnaces, pottery fragments, glass and stone objects.
The ministry noted that the first settlement of this territory took place in the III century BC, during the reign of the Ptolemaic dynasty. In the following centuries, the settlement developed into a city that became an important center of early Christianity. Many buildings of the Ptolemaic and early Roman periods were later repurposed.
Egypt’s Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, Sherif Fathi, emphasized that this discovery demonstrates the diversity of ancient Egyptian civilization at key historical stages and “deepens the understanding of the period of religious transformation in Egypt and highlights the tolerance and cultural and religious diversity that characterized Egyptian civilization.”
Copts are considered descendants of the ancient Egyptians and before the Arab conquest of the 7th century constituted the majority of the population of Egypt. They were among the first to adopt Christianity, but over time they assimilated to a large extent with the Arabs. The Coptic language is now used only in church services, and most Coptic Christians belong to the Coptic Orthodox Church.
