Posted on 05/22/2023 6:32:35 PM PDT by marshmallow
In Old Dongola, archaeologists have recently discovered unique Nubian Christian paintings depicting local kings, Christ, the Archangel Michael, and the Virgin Mary.
Old Dongola, also known as Dongola, was an ancient city located in present-day Sudan, situated on the eastern bank of the Nile River. It served as the capital of the medieval kingdom of Makuria, a Christian kingdom that thrived from the 6th to the 14th centuries.
In some of these old buildings, archaeologists have recently discovered unique Nubian Christian paintings depicting local kings, Christ, the Archangel Michael, and the Virgin Mary.
As read in the article published by Science In Poland, “archaeologists Dr. Lorenzo de Lellis and Dr. Maciej Wyżgoł unexpectedly stumbled upon a complex of rooms made of sun-dried brick, the interiors of which were covered with figural scenes unique for Christian art […] Beneath the floor of one of the houses was an opening leading to a small chamber, the walls of which were decorated with unique representations.”
In a press release, the Polish Centre of Mediterranean Archaeology explained that the discovered images
“showed the Mother of God, Christ, as well as a scene depicting a Nubian king, Christ, and Archangel Michael. However, this was not a typical representation of a Nubian ruler under the protection of saints or archangels […] The king bows to Christ, who is seated in the clouds, and kisses his hand. The ruler is supported by Archangel Michael, whose spread wings shield both the king and Christ himself […] Such a scene finds no parallels in Nubian painting. The dynamism and intimacy of the representation contrasts with the hieratic nature of the figures shown on the side walls. Neither does the figure of the Virgin Mary on the north wall of the chamber belong to the typical.......
(Excerpt) Read more at aleteia.org ...
Thanks! Interesting!
A Christian kingdom in Sudan between 700 and 1400! This was something I did not know.
Might have contributed to the legends of Prester John...
There are ancient Pagodas in Western China that were actually Nestorian Christian Churches. Those are a better source for the origins of Prestor John. The goddess of mercy in Chines Goodland Buddhismn Guan Yin, is depicted with a child and may, in fact be the virgin Mary
There are ancient Pagodas in Western China that were actually Nestorian Christian Churches. Those are a better source for the origins of Prestor John. The goddess of mercy in Chines Goodland Buddhismn Guan Yin, is depicted with a child and may, in fact be the virgin Mary
I’ve always been fascinated by the ‘underground’ churches in Lalibela, Ethiopia:
https://www.discovery.com/exploration/Ethiopian-Churches
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lalibela
IIRC there is also archaeological evidence of this sort in Japan.
The Christological heresies followed by Islam stank for the east.
Thank God that the THomas Christians managed to hold out as long as they did.
A large portion of Africa especially north and east Africa was Christian until the Mohammedans came through. Some places managed to hold out like Ethiopia (Axiem) and Makuria (Meroe).
I didn’t find the paintings at the link. Did I miss them?
The Nubia keyword, sorted:
Depiction of Mary, the Mother of God (credit: Magdalena Skarżyńska/Polish Centre of Mediterranean Archaeology University of Warsaw)
Fascinating!
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