Polish Archaeology in the Mediterranean (3.1991(1992))

EXCAVATIONS AT THE BASILICA SITE
AT EL-ASHMUNEIN/HERMOPOLIS MAGNA
IN 1987-1990

by Marek Baranski

The Polish-Egyptian Archaeological and Preservation Mission
at el-Ashmunein was established by the Egyptian Antiquities
Organization and the Ateliers for Conservation of Cuitural Property
(PKZ) for the purpose of protecting and restoring one of the most
spectacular Coptic monuments - the Ashmunein Basilica. The aim
of the mission was to carry out archaeological work, prepare
architectural documentation and supervise the implementation of
preservation and restoration works on the endangered monument. 1

The basilica’s remains were discovered in 1942 by Mr. M.
Kamal. In the following years an expedition of the University in
Alexandria cleared the whole monument. 2 The great cathedral is a
big basilical building with side galleries. It has a colonnaded
transept with exedrae at both ends. The church building with
atrium and adjacent rooms formed an independent complex set in
the very centre of the ancient town. The building of the basilica
destroyed constructions previously existing on the spot.
Unfortunately, after the collapse of the basilica, its remnants were

1 Mission members: Marek Baranski - architect, archaeologist and director
of the mission, Mr. Artur Zbiegieni - architect, Messrs. Zbigniew Polak. Jan
Gromnicki - archaeologists, Dr. Tadeusz Kowalski - civil engineer, Dr. Ryszard
Jurkiewicz - civil engineer, chemist and Mr, Leszek Niespodziewahski - chemist.
EAO assistance: Messrs. Atta Makramallah, Faig Abd Rabokab, Ahmad Mousa,
Samy Farid - egyptologists and Mr. Mamdough Jamal - civil engineer. We want
to express our sincere thanks to Dr. Ali Hassan and Mr. Kamal Fahmi for their
help and personal involvement in mission problems.

2 A. J. B. Wace, A. H. S. Megaw, T. C. Skeat, Hermopolis MagnalAshmuneirt.
The Ptolemaic Sanctuary and the Basilica, Alexanaria 1959; A. S. Atiya (ed.),
Ashmunein, /in:/ The Coptic Encyclopedia, New York 1991, pp. 285-7.

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