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Dayr anba Shinudah (Ad-Dayr Al Abyad Al-Bahari):
'the White Monastery'

The 'White Monastery' was founded by Shenute (about 332/350 to 451/466) and soon became one of the most celebrated and important monasteries in Egypt, because of the high reputation of its founder. The church of the complex is architecturally one of the most important in Egypt, with a great influence on later church buildings. At the Persian conquest in AD 619 the church was burnt down, but it was carefully rebuilt in its old style and layout: for example, damaged granite columns were replaced by brick columns in exactly the same measurements and at the same places. The church is still standing; the surrounding monastery area was surveyed by Petrie.

some Coptic objects collected by Petrie | plan of the church | the monastery on a map of Egypt

 


 

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