Bagawet Necropolis
Vivian, Cassandra (2000) The Western Deserts of Egypt, pp. 77-8:
"Entrance Fee. Cascading down the southern foothills of Gebel al-Teir are the desert brown, domed mausoleums of one of the earliest and best preserved Christian cemeteries in the world, Bagawat. In the center of the cemetery stands a Christian church that still had "traces of saints painted on the wall" when Edmondstone passed this way in 1819. Numbering 263 in all, with many pit burials between the chapels, most of the tombs are a
single room. Some are larger and six have domed roofs. Evidence indicates the area was a burial site long before the Christian era, but the current structures date from the fourth to the seventh centuries (some sources say only until the fifth century). Each chapel once had a wooden door with lintels of wood or stone at the entrance. Most have plain interiors, but there are several with wall paintings and graffiti. Two stand out: the Chapel of the Exodus and the Chapel of Peace.
Chapel of the Exodus
One of the earliest chapels in the necropolis, the interior of the Chapel of the Exodus is decorated with scenes from the Old Testament, which run in two circles around the interior of the dome. The upper register shows Moses leading the Israelites, the Israelites on their journey through Sinai,
Pharaoh and the Egyptian army, Noah's Ark, Adam and Eve, Daniel in the lion's den, Shadrach, Mishach, and Abednego in the furnace, the sacrifices of Abraham, Jonah in the whale, Jonah out of the whale, Rebecca at the well, Job in a chair, Job suffering, Susanna and Jeremiah at the temple of Jerusalem, Sarah in prayer., a shepherd, the martyrdom of St. Thekla, seven virgins, and a garden. In addition to the original paintings, there is graffiti in this chapel dating from the ninth century to the present day, including the scribblings of Turkish soldiers, whom historians believe may have been garrisoned here 200 years ago.
Chapel of Peace
Located in the southwest corner of the necropolis, the domed Chapel of Peace also has a richly decorated interior. Vines, peacocks, and allegorical figures, all in Byzantine style and reminiscent of paintings in the catacombs in Rome, are found throughout. The most exciting frescoes are around the central panel of the dome. Identified in Greek, they are, starting from the panel above the entrance: Adam and Eve after the Fall; the Sacrifice of Isaac; Eirene, the Allegory of Peace; Daniel in the lions' den; Dikaiosyne, the Allegory of Justice; Euche, the Allegory of Prayer;
Jacob; Noah's Ark; The Annunciation of the Virgin Mary; and the apostle Paul instructing Thekla."
"Entrance Fee. Cascading down the southern foothills of Gebel al-Teir are the desert brown, domed mausoleums of one of the earliest and best preserved Christian cemeteries in the world, Bagawat. In the center of the cemetery stands a Christian church that still had "traces of saints painted on the wall" when Edmondstone passed this way in 1819. Numbering 263 in all, with many pit burials between the chapels, most of the tombs are a
single room. Some are larger and six have domed roofs. Evidence indicates the area was a burial site long before the Christian era, but the current structures date from the fourth to the seventh centuries (some sources say only until the fifth century). Each chapel once had a wooden door with lintels of wood or stone at the entrance. Most have plain interiors, but there are several with wall paintings and graffiti. Two stand out: the Chapel of the Exodus and the Chapel of Peace.
Chapel of the Exodus
One of the earliest chapels in the necropolis, the interior of the Chapel of the Exodus is decorated with scenes from the Old Testament, which run in two circles around the interior of the dome. The upper register shows Moses leading the Israelites, the Israelites on their journey through Sinai,
Pharaoh and the Egyptian army, Noah's Ark, Adam and Eve, Daniel in the lion's den, Shadrach, Mishach, and Abednego in the furnace, the sacrifices of Abraham, Jonah in the whale, Jonah out of the whale, Rebecca at the well, Job in a chair, Job suffering, Susanna and Jeremiah at the temple of Jerusalem, Sarah in prayer., a shepherd, the martyrdom of St. Thekla, seven virgins, and a garden. In addition to the original paintings, there is graffiti in this chapel dating from the ninth century to the present day, including the scribblings of Turkish soldiers, whom historians believe may have been garrisoned here 200 years ago.
Chapel of Peace
Located in the southwest corner of the necropolis, the domed Chapel of Peace also has a richly decorated interior. Vines, peacocks, and allegorical figures, all in Byzantine style and reminiscent of paintings in the catacombs in Rome, are found throughout. The most exciting frescoes are around the central panel of the dome. Identified in Greek, they are, starting from the panel above the entrance: Adam and Eve after the Fall; the Sacrifice of Isaac; Eirene, the Allegory of Peace; Daniel in the lions' den; Dikaiosyne, the Allegory of Justice; Euche, the Allegory of Prayer;
Jacob; Noah's Ark; The Annunciation of the Virgin Mary; and the apostle Paul instructing Thekla."
Possibly the most interesting site in Kharga is this necropolis dating from the 3rd to the 7th centuries A.D.
General pictures
Chapel of Peace
Chapel of the Exodus
Page last updated, 31st May, 2011