Thursday, March 27, 2014

Gold Coins found in Coptic Alter



A series of 29 Byzantine gold coins has been found in a Pharaonic tomb at Dra Abu el Naga. The tomb was at some time converted into a Coptic chapel and it was within a small column supporting the alter that the coins were found.

The coins bear the names of four Byzantine rulers with the latest emperor present being Justinian which may place the establishment of the alter in the chapel sometime before 565 AD or slightly after. The chapel is considered the earliest part of the monastery Deir el Bakhit who's ancient name was the monastery of St. Paulo's.

Photo: DAI Cairo

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