DOI article:
Godlewski, Włodzimierz: Deir el-Naqlun, 1990
DOI Page / Citation link:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.26389#0052
prayer niche in the eastern one. The niche had a painted frame, of which only small
fragments have survived. On the outside there was a band of floral decoration - a sort
of wreath, with possibly palm leaves at the bottom. Inside the niche there presumably
was a cross upon a podium: remnants of the latter survived as the sole evidence of the
composition.
It would appear then that in the second phase of the utilization of complex A.1-2,
unit B.l served as a sort of oratory. It was visited often by pilgrims who left numerous
Coptic and Arabic graffiti giving names of visitors sometimes accompanied by their
functions and their places of origin. All of the writings are undoubtedly Christian and
seem to have been made in Late Medieval times.
In the last phase of the erem's habitation a small vestibule B.2 was added in front
of unit B.l: the new structure was built upon the original courtyard.
Hermitage no 89 had two other units which are only just traceable. Unit D in the
northern part of the complex was preserved at barely walking level: the kind of plaster
floor in the interior suggests it had been a living space. The walls of unit C were of
bricks and sherds set in mud, the roof was of reeds. Considering the character of the
fill in this unit, it must have served as a domestic area, perhaps a pen: donkeys seem
to have been kept here for some time.
A large part of the original courtyard, presumably connected with the A.1-2
complex as well as possibly with units C and D, and at one time built over with units B.2
and C, had not been excavated, especially the southern and southwestern parts.
Presumably part of the courtyard, just as the northern and southern ends of unit D,
has suffered damage.
The fill of the rooms of erem no 89 contained several objects connected with the
daily life of the eremites. These included fragments of clothes: both thick and thin
tunics, and pieces of shoes, mainly sandals, with the upper soles decorated very
carefully with impressed geometrical designs. A large portion of the finds are mats,
ropes and baskets which may have been produced in the erem or may simply have been
50
fragments have survived. On the outside there was a band of floral decoration - a sort
of wreath, with possibly palm leaves at the bottom. Inside the niche there presumably
was a cross upon a podium: remnants of the latter survived as the sole evidence of the
composition.
It would appear then that in the second phase of the utilization of complex A.1-2,
unit B.l served as a sort of oratory. It was visited often by pilgrims who left numerous
Coptic and Arabic graffiti giving names of visitors sometimes accompanied by their
functions and their places of origin. All of the writings are undoubtedly Christian and
seem to have been made in Late Medieval times.
In the last phase of the erem's habitation a small vestibule B.2 was added in front
of unit B.l: the new structure was built upon the original courtyard.
Hermitage no 89 had two other units which are only just traceable. Unit D in the
northern part of the complex was preserved at barely walking level: the kind of plaster
floor in the interior suggests it had been a living space. The walls of unit C were of
bricks and sherds set in mud, the roof was of reeds. Considering the character of the
fill in this unit, it must have served as a domestic area, perhaps a pen: donkeys seem
to have been kept here for some time.
A large part of the original courtyard, presumably connected with the A.1-2
complex as well as possibly with units C and D, and at one time built over with units B.2
and C, had not been excavated, especially the southern and southwestern parts.
Presumably part of the courtyard, just as the northern and southern ends of unit D,
has suffered damage.
The fill of the rooms of erem no 89 contained several objects connected with the
daily life of the eremites. These included fragments of clothes: both thick and thin
tunics, and pieces of shoes, mainly sandals, with the upper soles decorated very
carefully with impressed geometrical designs. A large portion of the finds are mats,
ropes and baskets which may have been produced in the erem or may simply have been
50