The Excavations at Ismant al-Kharab: Volume II - The Christian Monuments of Kellis: The Churches and Cemeteries...

— —

Gillian E. Bowen

The Excavations at Ismant al-Kharab

Volume II - The Christian Monuments of Kellis: The Churches and Cemeteries

Gillian E. Bowen

$205

Hardback

Not in-store but you can order this
How long will it take?

Availability Information

We source books from suppliers in Australia and overseas. For books we don't currently have in stock, the time it takes to get them from our suppliers can vary widely - from a few days to a few months - so we check each book with each supplier to determine the expected time it will take to be supplied to us.

We then advise you accordingly. If the time taken to get any book is too long for you, you can let us know and we will cancel or adjust your order, and refund as required.

To find out the anticipated arrival time for specific items prior to ordering, please contact us by phone or email:

Phone +61 2 9264 3111, or 1800 4 BOOKS (1800 4 26657) if outside Sydney:
option 1 Abbey's Bookshop (Crime, History, Science, Kids & more) • info@abbeys.com.au
option 2 Language Book Centre (ESL & Foreign Languages) • language@abbeys.com.au
option 3 Galaxy Bookshop (Sci-fi, Fantasy, Romance, Graphic Novels) • sf@galaxybooks.com.au

QTY:

English

Oxbow Books
31 December 2023

History of art: Byzantine & Medieval art; Classical history & classical civilisation; Egyptian archaeology & Egyptology; History of religion; Ancient Egyptian religion & mythology

The adoption of Christianity by the Egyptian populace was well underway by the late third century, but evidence for its presence in the archaeological record from the Nile valley is sparse. This is due, in part, to the loss of ancient settlement sites beneath modern cultivation. By comparison, Ismant al-Kharab, ancient Kellis, in Dakhleh Oasis, was abandoned at the end of the fourth century and many of its structures survive intact. The villagers, moreover, left behind a wealth of artefacts and documentation. By the late third century some had converted to Christianity and by the early fourth century three churches were built to accommodate their growing numbers. The churches afford an unparalleled window into three ecclesiastical complexes that served a single village. The Large East Church, moreover, is the earliest surviving example of a purpose-built basilica in Egypt known thus far. It provides a better understanding of the development of Egyptian church architecture and has forced a reappraisal of the dates of certain features that were previously attributed to the fifth century. The community established three burial grounds: Kellis 2, with an estimated 3,5004,000 graves, a funerary church and associated graveyard, and in a reused monumental mausoleum. Christian cemeteries are known throughout North Africa, Europe, and Britain, but in Egypt few are published in anything but a cursory manner. At Kellis, 800+ graves have been excavated; the earliest burials date to the late third century confirming the evidence of an early conversion by some villagers and its rapid expansion thereafter. This volume provides the first detailed publication of the churches and Christian burial grounds. It incorporates a discussion of the spread of Christianity in Egypt's Southern Oasis, drawing upon data from the rich textual documentation from the site. The material culture is presented in detail, especially the extensive collection of ceramics, glass, and coins.

By: Gillian E. Bowen
Imprint: Oxbow Books
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions: Height: 298mm, Width: 210mm,
ISBN: 9781789259636
ISBN 10: 1789259630
Pages: 488
Publication Date: 31 December 2023
Audience: Professional and scholarly , Undergraduate
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Active

Gillian E. Bowen has worked with Colin Hope for over 30 years and they are currently joint recipients of a 5-year Australian Research Council Discovery Project grant to investigate the cult of the god Seth in Egypt, especially in Dakhleh, and its supposed proscription during the first millennium BCE. Until recently, Bowen was senior lecturer in ancient history at Monash University. Bowen has worked in Dakhleh since 1990, specialising in the archaeology of Christian Egypt; she has three concessions in Dakhleh from the Egyptian government all with Christian remains. Additionally, she is a numismatist and authority on ancient textiles.