Polish Archaeology in the Mediterranean (16.2004(2005))

OLD DONGOLA

SUDAN

painted plaster found nearby).7 Represen-
tations of the Holy Virgin Galakotrophusa
were painted on the jambs of the entrance
to the passage (3), once it was pierced
through the wall,8 at the same time as most
of the paintings decorating the interior of
the earlier (sic!) part of the Annex, i.e.,
rooms 5 and 6 {Fig. 6],
The most surprising composition was
encountered on the north vault of room 5.
It represents a festival dedicated to the


Fig. 6. Two representations of the Virgin Mary in
(Drawing XV. Chmiel)

Virgin Mary with several dancers, some
wearing traditional masks. The figures
hold sticks, incense burners and drums.
The accompanying texts in Old Nubian
were perhaps meant to indicate what they
were singing. The Virgin with distaff was
painted in the form of an icon beside this
scene. The north part of the same vault and
the east wall was filled with a scene of the
Nativity demonstrating the fullest
iconographical breadth. Fragments of


the entrance to room 6 in the SW Annex

7 Both paintings were discovered in 1995, cf. Dongola-Studien, PI. LVI:l-2.
8 Ibid., PI. LXIII; Figs, e & f on page 227.

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