DOI Heft:
Sudan
DOI Artikel:Żurawski, Bogdan: Dongola Reach: the southern Dongola Reach Survey Project, 2002
DOI Seite / Zitierlink:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.41370#0249
DONGOLA REACH
SUDAN
graphical sequence clearly proves that the
lower would-be church in the last stage of
its existence was entered through an
entrance located more than three meters
below the walking level.
The Banganarti church continued as
a pilgrimage center well into the 13th-l4th
century as the murals, ceramics and ins-
criptions found there convincingly suggest.
The last murals were painted in the late
13th-l4th century and the last inscriptions
were scratched on the walls in the mid-14th
century.
The iconographical program of the
decoration in the apsed eastern chapels
turned out to be the same in all cases.
A ruler was depicted standing, clad in full-
blown regalia with royal purse, robes of
honor, etc., wearing a crown and holding
another one in the left hand, while
grasping a peculiar type of scepter in the
other hand. The scenes included figures of
the apostles pictured on both sides of the
ruler and an Archangel standing in back.
At least in one mural (in Chapel 3, Fig. 8)
the archangel was shown investing the king
with an object that could be a sumptuous
fastening of a royal girba that streams from
the king's right shoulder over his left
forearm.
The iconography of the mural represen-
tations (twelve royal portraits found so far),
the top quality of the masonry, exquisite
layout and master execution of the edifice
definitely suggest a royal milieu. The
plethora of graffiti, on the other hand,
proves that the site was perceived as a pil-
grimage center of special importance.
The superb iconographical program of
the royal chapels provides much informa-
tion on the political theology of Makurian
kingship. For instance, portraying Nubian
rulers between the apostles (Fig. 7), in
position usually occupied by the image of
Christ was, from the 12th century on-
wards, a reflection of the evolution taking
place in Byzantine political theology with
its stress on christoumimesis. It strengthened
the authority of the Makurian dynasty by
emphasizing the divine aspect of kingship.
Fig. 8. Ink copy of the wall decoration in Chapel 3
(Drawing SDRS Expedition)
245
SUDAN
graphical sequence clearly proves that the
lower would-be church in the last stage of
its existence was entered through an
entrance located more than three meters
below the walking level.
The Banganarti church continued as
a pilgrimage center well into the 13th-l4th
century as the murals, ceramics and ins-
criptions found there convincingly suggest.
The last murals were painted in the late
13th-l4th century and the last inscriptions
were scratched on the walls in the mid-14th
century.
The iconographical program of the
decoration in the apsed eastern chapels
turned out to be the same in all cases.
A ruler was depicted standing, clad in full-
blown regalia with royal purse, robes of
honor, etc., wearing a crown and holding
another one in the left hand, while
grasping a peculiar type of scepter in the
other hand. The scenes included figures of
the apostles pictured on both sides of the
ruler and an Archangel standing in back.
At least in one mural (in Chapel 3, Fig. 8)
the archangel was shown investing the king
with an object that could be a sumptuous
fastening of a royal girba that streams from
the king's right shoulder over his left
forearm.
The iconography of the mural represen-
tations (twelve royal portraits found so far),
the top quality of the masonry, exquisite
layout and master execution of the edifice
definitely suggest a royal milieu. The
plethora of graffiti, on the other hand,
proves that the site was perceived as a pil-
grimage center of special importance.
The superb iconographical program of
the royal chapels provides much informa-
tion on the political theology of Makurian
kingship. For instance, portraying Nubian
rulers between the apostles (Fig. 7), in
position usually occupied by the image of
Christ was, from the 12th century on-
wards, a reflection of the evolution taking
place in Byzantine political theology with
its stress on christoumimesis. It strengthened
the authority of the Makurian dynasty by
emphasizing the divine aspect of kingship.
Fig. 8. Ink copy of the wall decoration in Chapel 3
(Drawing SDRS Expedition)
245