Polish Archaeology in the Mediterranean (10.1998(1999))

OLD DONGOLA

SUDAN

ing), a small staircase was built later,
apparently giving access to the roof.
The partly excavated Room 13
(13 x 2.20 m) originally formed a kind of
open space between the two buildings.
During the first rebuilding in the second
half of the 11th cent., it received a barrel
vaulting and a new plaster coating with
rich painted decoration. On the east wall,
there is a magnificent figure (nearly 4 m
high) of the Archangel Michael backed by
the Holy Trinity (Fig. 4), a unique icono-
graphical theme in medieval art, provided
with a set of inscriptions in Greek, written

in black ink, apparently containing hymns
to the Archangel and the Apostles.7)
Other murals fill the interior, seemingly
taking up all the available space on the
upper parts of walls. As solely the eastern
part of the room has been excavated com-
pletely, so far only two figures of this row
of murals are fully exposed: a standing
anonymous Warrior Saint and a badly
damaged representation of the Holy
Virgin on the south wall; at least seven
other paintings still await clearing and
conservation. The remaining part of Room
13 was excavated only to a depth of 1 m,


Fig. 3- Western Annex, Room 24- Painting
depicting St. Menas as a warrior
’ (Photo W. Chmiel)


Fig. 4. Western Annex, Room 13 (Chapel).
Monumental figure of the Archangel
Michael backed by the Holy Trinity.
Second half of 11th cent.
(Photo W. Chmiel)

7) The texts are being studied by Dr. Adam Lajtar.

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