Egypt .. Discovery of a Monastic Complex from the Byzantine Era in Sohag

The Egyptian authorities announced a new archaeological discovery in Sohag Governorate that reveals a complete residential complex for monks dating back to the Byzantine era, providing a rare glimpse into the lives of monks in Upper Egypt about 1600 years ago, including places of worship, food utensils, inscriptions, and their writings.

The Supreme Council of Antiquities indicated that this discovery is located in the village of Baldwir in the center of Tama, reflecting the richness and diversity of Egyptian cultural heritage throughout the ages, and represents an important addition to historical research, attracting visitors and researchers interested in the history of civilizations and religions.

Details of the Monastic Complex

Dr. Mohamed Ismail Khaled, Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, explained that the excavation results revealed a complete monastic community with an organized lifestyle within the site, confirming that the discovered buildings illustrate the way of life of monks during that era.

The excavations include:

Rectangular buildings made of mud bricks measuring between 8 × 7 meters and 14 × 8 meters, some of which contain worship halls and small rooms with vaulted ceilings.
Walls that retained remnants of plaster layers and "niches" and "wall recesses."
Southern courtyards and private entrances, in addition to small circular buildings believed to have been dining tables for the monks.
Basins made of red brick and limestone for water storage or industrial uses.
The main church of the complex measuring 14 × 10 meters, consisting of the nave and the altar.
Writings and living tools revealing secrets of daily life
The excavations yielded writings in Coptic and others that may be letters or numbers and names, in addition to living tools, stone pieces, and stone slabs engraved with Coptic script, reflecting the religious and architectural character of the monastic complex.

Cultural Heritage and Tourist Attraction

This discovery is a significant addition to Egyptian archaeological heritage, contributing to enriching knowledge about monasticism in ancient Egypt, and attracting researchers and tourists interested in the history of civilizations and religions, affirming the status of Upper Egypt as a cultural center throughout the ages.