Post 8265
Image Gallery: Beautiful Nubian Art
Selib 1
Credit: Bogdan Zurawski
At the site of Selib, only a few miles east of Banganarti, archaeologists have discovered four churches, one built on top of the other. The oldest dates back to the sixth century, a time when Christianity was just beggining to spread in Nubia.
Selib 2
Credit: Bogdan Zurawski
Two pillars from one of the churches yielded a welcome surprise.
Selib 3
Credit: Bogdan Zurawski
It yielded an inscription – Zacharias basileus Mena hagios – King Zacharias (a seventh century ruler) dedicated the church to St. Mena, a third century Egyptian hermit.
Selib 4
Credit: Bogdan Zurawski
A baptismal area, shaped like a keyhold, from the seventh century church.
Selib 5
Credit: Bogdan Zurawski
Decorated capitals, the top of columns, were found at the seventh century church.
Selib 6
Credit: Bogdan Zurawski
This vessel was found in four pieces and had to be put back together. Archaeologists determined that it dates to the 11th or 12th centuries and was used for blessing “gifts of the earth” such as water, wine or oil.
Selib 7
Credit: Bogdan Zurawski
The same vessel as seen from above, it would have been used for liquids.
Selib 8
Credit: Bogdan Zurawski
One of the baptistery’s found at Selib, pictured here, belongs to the earliest church, dating back about 1,500 years ago.
Selib 9
Credit: Bogdan Zurawski
A ceramic from the earliest church.
Selib 10
Credit: Bogdan Zurawski
When the researchers excavated this well at Selib they found quite a surprise.
Selib 11
Credit: Bogdan Zurawski
They found at its bottom beautiful decoration in a zig-zag pattern. It has no practical purpose, only aesthetic.
Selib 12
Credit: Bogdan Zurawski
The medieval people of Selib appear to have decided that even the bottom of a well should be beautiful.
