Archaeologists have found two 1,600-year-old churches in Egypt’s western desert. This discovery offers rare evidence of Christianity’s rise in Egyptian desert settlements.
The churches were found
at Kharga Oasis, an ancient settlement roughly 350 miles southwest of Cairo.
The Christian remains include cemeteries, churches, and a mural of Jesus curing
a sick man, but the Oasis has been inhabited since antiquity, thanks to underground
water sources.
The archaeologists
uncovered the remains of an entire settlement at Kharga Oasis, including
multiple residential buildings made of mudbrick, with some walls still
retaining plaster. The team also found ovens and large clay jars that were set
into the ground to store food. Other finds included inscribed pottery shards,
vessels, glass and stone pieces, and several burials.
However, the
centerpiece of the excavation was the discovery of two churches. Both date back
to the early Coptic era, which is Egypt’s Christianization period that began in
the 4th century AD.
One church was a grand
basilica made of mudbrick. It held remnants of a large hall and two aisles.
The second church was
smaller. It had a rectangular layout and was surrounded by the remains of seven
external columns. Some of its inner walls were decorated with Coptic
inscriptions. The remains of service buildings were found to the west of the
smaller church.
This discovery sheds
light on the beginnings of the Coptic period in Egypt. It also shows the
importance of Egypt’s western oases as centers of religious and social life in
various eras. It highlights the tolerance and cultural and religious diversity
of Egyptian civilization.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/archaeologists-find-1-600-year-old-churches-and-mural-of-jesus-in-egyptian-desert-settlement/ar-AA1LAKXW?ocid=hpmsn&cvid=9cfbbedf980846debce3c660196a3d2e&ei=61
