Image Gallery: Beautiful Nubian Art

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Image Gallery: Beautiful Nubian Art

By Live Science Staff
Selib 1

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

Selib 2

Credit: Bogdan Zurawski

Two pillars from one of the churches yielded a welcome surprise.

Selib 3

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

Selib 4

Credit: Bogdan Zurawski

A baptismal area, shaped like a keyhold, from the seventh century church.

Selib 5

Selib 5

Credit: Bogdan Zurawski

Decorated capitals, the top of columns, were found at the seventh century church.

Selib 6

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

Selib 7

Credit: Bogdan Zurawski

The same vessel as seen from above, it would have been used for liquids.

Selib 8

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

Selib 9

Credit: Bogdan Zurawski

A ceramic from the earliest church.

Selib 10

Selib 10

Credit: Bogdan Zurawski

When the researchers excavated this well at Selib they found quite a surprise.

Selib 11

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

Selib 12

Credit: Bogdan Zurawski

The medieval people of Selib appear to have decided that even the bottom of a well should be beautiful.

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