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Document Details : Title: A Private House in 'Marea'/Philoxenite Transformed into a Monastic Institution and Other Christian Hybrid Buildings in the Mareotis Region Author(s): DERDA, Tomasz , GWIAZDA, Mariusz , BURDAJEWICZ, Julia Journal: Journal of Coptic Studies Volume: 25 Date: 2023 Pages: 107-138 DOI: 10.2143/JCS.25.0.3292057 Abstract : In the western hinterland of Alexandria, numerous examples of small church complexes associated with residential spaces have been unearthed which have a unique architectural form for the Byzantine period. During the excavations at ‘Marea’/Philoxenite, another example of this kind was discovered. It has been analysed for architectural modifications, decorations and related finds in the form of pottery vessels, marble objects, and ostraca. These testimonies indicate that the building was erected no earlier than the 6th century AD and was originally a private house. Later, one of its wings was transformed into a single-nave church with a baptistry. The documents on potsherds (ostraca) discovered in it indicate that in the last phase of use, this complex was managed by monks. These discoveries are an example of a rare Christianization of private space in late antiquity and provide new arguments in the discussion of the function of similar buildings in northwestern Egypt. |
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