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E02872: Burial chamber under a triconch chapel, by the monastery of Apa *Shenoute (abbot of the White Monastery near Sohag in Upper Egypt, ob. 465), with an image of Shenoute standing next to an angel and other figures; later 5th to 7th c. Perhaps the burial chamber of Shenoute.
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posted on 2017-06-01, 00:00 authored by dlambertThe Northern wall of a decorated underground burial vault shows a row of at least three standing figures. The caption above one of the figures has remained intact and reads: ⲁⲃⲃⲁ ⲥⲉⲛⲟⲩⲑⲓⲟⲩ ⲁⲣⲭⲏⲙⲁⲛⲇⲣⲓⲧⲟⲩ, 'Abba Shenoute the archimandrite'.
The same caption can be found above an image of Shenoute on the north lobe of the triconch apse in the church of the Red Monastery, dated to the 6th century: + ⲁⲃⲃⲁ ⲥⲉⲛⲟⲩⲑⲟⲩ ⲁⲣⲭⲏⲙⲁⲛⲇⲣ(ⲓⲧⲟⲩ).
Unlike the image in the church of the Red Monastery, the figure of Shenoute on the wall of the vault at the White Monastery is not depicted alone. Standing next to Shenoute is the figure of an angel with parts of one wing still visible. Whether one is to expect Gabriel or Michael here, either name would likely feature the term ὁ ἀρχάγγελος or ⲡⲁⲣⲭⲁⲅⲅⲉⲗⲟⲥ ‘the archangel’ with it; indeed a final omicron and sigma, which would fit these epithets, survive above the figure standing to the left of Shenoute. A typical example of such a caption is found in the church of the Red Monastery, where an image of the archangel Michael, ascribed to phase 3 and dated ca. 550–600, has the caption: + ⲙⲓⲭⲁⲏ<ⲗ> ⲡⲁⲣⲭⲁⲅⲅⲉⲗⲟⲥ, ('Michael the archangel.')
Shenoute himself is depicted with a square halo and brown hair, identifying the young and living Shenoute. In contrast, his image on the wall of the Red Monastery shows Shenoute with white hair, a long white beard, and the round halo, portraying the deceased former abbot in old age.
A triconch chapel is located above the burial chamber, situated in the immediate vicinity of the former monastic cemetery. Wall paintings have also been found on what little remains standing of this triconch chapel, though no figures with inscriptions were among them. It is a reasonable assumption that this chapel was built for cultic purposes related to the burial chamber below.
The same caption can be found above an image of Shenoute on the north lobe of the triconch apse in the church of the Red Monastery, dated to the 6th century: + ⲁⲃⲃⲁ ⲥⲉⲛⲟⲩⲑⲟⲩ ⲁⲣⲭⲏⲙⲁⲛⲇⲣ(ⲓⲧⲟⲩ).
Unlike the image in the church of the Red Monastery, the figure of Shenoute on the wall of the vault at the White Monastery is not depicted alone. Standing next to Shenoute is the figure of an angel with parts of one wing still visible. Whether one is to expect Gabriel or Michael here, either name would likely feature the term ὁ ἀρχάγγελος or ⲡⲁⲣⲭⲁⲅⲅⲉⲗⲟⲥ ‘the archangel’ with it; indeed a final omicron and sigma, which would fit these epithets, survive above the figure standing to the left of Shenoute. A typical example of such a caption is found in the church of the Red Monastery, where an image of the archangel Michael, ascribed to phase 3 and dated ca. 550–600, has the caption: + ⲙⲓⲭⲁⲏ<ⲗ> ⲡⲁⲣⲭⲁⲅⲅⲉⲗⲟⲥ, ('Michael the archangel.')
Shenoute himself is depicted with a square halo and brown hair, identifying the young and living Shenoute. In contrast, his image on the wall of the Red Monastery shows Shenoute with white hair, a long white beard, and the round halo, portraying the deceased former abbot in old age.
A triconch chapel is located above the burial chamber, situated in the immediate vicinity of the former monastic cemetery. Wall paintings have also been found on what little remains standing of this triconch chapel, though no figures with inscriptions were among them. It is a reasonable assumption that this chapel was built for cultic purposes related to the burial chamber below.
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