DOI issue:
Egypt
DOI article:Szymańska, Hanna; Babraj, Krzysztof: Marea: second interim report, 2001
DOI Page / Citation link:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.41369#0060
MAREA
EGYPT
had gone out of use. Charred soil and
burned bricks in the northwestern corner
and on either side of the passage leading to
chamber F, which was heated from the
hypocaust cellar, are a remnant of the
tubulatio system.
Current studies have confirmed beyond
all doubt that there were two stages in the
operation of the bath. The pottery, which is
as yet the best dating indicator,8) as well as
lamps and coins, suggest that the building
was constructed in the 6th-7th century and
was rebuilt substantially in the Early
Islamic period, that is, in the late 7th-8th
century. As no glazed Islamic wares are in
evidence, it would suggest that the
establishment was abandoned by the early
8th century.
PRESERVATION WORKS
In the course of this year's work it became
obvious that parts of the ancient building
would need to be protected professionally.
Wooden supports have been introduced
wherever surviving vaults threatened to
collapse: in the entrance from outside to
the space under chamber A2 (Fig. 13), as
well as in the entrances to the cellars under
chambers B and A1 (cf. Fig. 2); finally, also
under the extant section of floor uncovered
in the northern end of the hypocaust cellar
under A1.
CONCLUSIONS
The site recording project this year covered
the four huge stone-built jetties on the
lake.9)
The size of the jetties, as well as of
other architectural complexes recorded on
the site, testify to the town's importance
as a port in Antiquity. It could not have
been merely a stopover for pilgrims
headed to Abu Mina.10) As one of
Alexandria's more important regional
satellite centers and furnished with a
basilican church of hardly inconsequential
size, Marea must have been a regular city
with a settled population.11)
8) For a detailed discussion of this season's pottery finds from Marea, see contribution by G. Majcherek in this volume.
9) The jetties and harbor are being studied by the Hellenic-Egyptian Mission for Marea Port Installations headed by Nikos
Lianos (Hellenic Society for the Study and Preservation of Marine Cultural Heritage; Department of Architecture of
Demokritos University of Thrace; and Department of Underwater Archaeology of the Supreme Council of Antiquities of
Egypt).
10) For a discussion of the name of the town (Philoxenite or Marea) and its nature, see M. Rodziewicz, “Alexandria and
District of Mareotis”, in: Graeco-Arabica 2, 199-216; also Szymanska, Babraj, PAM XII, op. cit., 37, note 4; K. Babraj,
H. Szymanska, “Marea am Maryut-See. Die erste Grabungssaison im Herbst 2000”, Kernet 10/3 (2001), 68-69-
11) R. Alston, The City in Roman and Byzantine Egypt (London and New York 2002), 317, 337-338. The author agreed
with Marea's importance as a large town. He repeats after F. El-Faharani (“Recent excavations at Marea in Egypt”, in: Das
romisch-byzantinische Agypten. Akten des internationalen Symposions 26-30. September 1978 in Trier, Aegyptiaca
Treverensia 2 (1983), 175-186) the unfortunate interpretation of a bath complex as a basilica. Meanwhile, the ruins of the
church are situated on a promontory situated further east on Lake Mareotis.
58
EGYPT
had gone out of use. Charred soil and
burned bricks in the northwestern corner
and on either side of the passage leading to
chamber F, which was heated from the
hypocaust cellar, are a remnant of the
tubulatio system.
Current studies have confirmed beyond
all doubt that there were two stages in the
operation of the bath. The pottery, which is
as yet the best dating indicator,8) as well as
lamps and coins, suggest that the building
was constructed in the 6th-7th century and
was rebuilt substantially in the Early
Islamic period, that is, in the late 7th-8th
century. As no glazed Islamic wares are in
evidence, it would suggest that the
establishment was abandoned by the early
8th century.
PRESERVATION WORKS
In the course of this year's work it became
obvious that parts of the ancient building
would need to be protected professionally.
Wooden supports have been introduced
wherever surviving vaults threatened to
collapse: in the entrance from outside to
the space under chamber A2 (Fig. 13), as
well as in the entrances to the cellars under
chambers B and A1 (cf. Fig. 2); finally, also
under the extant section of floor uncovered
in the northern end of the hypocaust cellar
under A1.
CONCLUSIONS
The site recording project this year covered
the four huge stone-built jetties on the
lake.9)
The size of the jetties, as well as of
other architectural complexes recorded on
the site, testify to the town's importance
as a port in Antiquity. It could not have
been merely a stopover for pilgrims
headed to Abu Mina.10) As one of
Alexandria's more important regional
satellite centers and furnished with a
basilican church of hardly inconsequential
size, Marea must have been a regular city
with a settled population.11)
8) For a detailed discussion of this season's pottery finds from Marea, see contribution by G. Majcherek in this volume.
9) The jetties and harbor are being studied by the Hellenic-Egyptian Mission for Marea Port Installations headed by Nikos
Lianos (Hellenic Society for the Study and Preservation of Marine Cultural Heritage; Department of Architecture of
Demokritos University of Thrace; and Department of Underwater Archaeology of the Supreme Council of Antiquities of
Egypt).
10) For a discussion of the name of the town (Philoxenite or Marea) and its nature, see M. Rodziewicz, “Alexandria and
District of Mareotis”, in: Graeco-Arabica 2, 199-216; also Szymanska, Babraj, PAM XII, op. cit., 37, note 4; K. Babraj,
H. Szymanska, “Marea am Maryut-See. Die erste Grabungssaison im Herbst 2000”, Kernet 10/3 (2001), 68-69-
11) R. Alston, The City in Roman and Byzantine Egypt (London and New York 2002), 317, 337-338. The author agreed
with Marea's importance as a large town. He repeats after F. El-Faharani (“Recent excavations at Marea in Egypt”, in: Das
romisch-byzantinische Agypten. Akten des internationalen Symposions 26-30. September 1978 in Trier, Aegyptiaca
Treverensia 2 (1983), 175-186) the unfortunate interpretation of a bath complex as a basilica. Meanwhile, the ruins of the
church are situated on a promontory situated further east on Lake Mareotis.
58