Open Collections

Konstantinidou, Alexandra

Database of Religious History (DRH)

North of the present Monastery of Virgin Mary of Baramūs in the Wādī al-Naṭrūn (the ancient desert of Sketis) there is a site, formerly known as Dayr Abū Mūsā al-’Aswad (Monastery of Saint Moses the Black). However, certain researchers argued that it could be identified with the Old Monastery of Baramūs. According to the hagiological tradition, this settlement was founded on the topos of the ‘Two Little Strangers’. By the end of the fourth century a laura already existed in its environs, which is regarded as one of the earliest communities organised in the desert of Sketis. The excavations, which were carried out by a team from Leiden University (the Netherlands), under the direction of Dr. Karel C. Innemée, brought to light the remains of a monastic compound. So far, it seems that the nucleus of the compound is the church, which has been remodelled in five different phases. At the south-eastern corner of the site a square-shaped building was uncovered; it has been considered to have been a defence tower, dating back to the fourth/fifth century, namely the earlier period of the settlement. In the western part of the complex, as well as at the north-eastern corner, parts of the living quarters or cells of the monks have been discovered. The pottery finds suggest that these cells were not inhabited before the late sixth to seventh centuries. Throughout the site a ninth century destruction level is evident. This monastic complex was in existence until the sixteenth century.

Other

eng

Vancouver : University of British Columbia Library

10.14288/1.0438205

Non UBC

Unreviewed

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/