An Egyptian archaeological mission has unearthed a mud-brick building dating back to the 6th-7th centuries AD in Manqabad, Assiut, revealing significant colored murals. The discovery, announced by the Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA), sheds new light on Coptic art and history.
The two-level structure, coated in white mortar, features murals with profound symbolism. One mural depicts repetitive eyes surrounding a face, symbolizing inner spiritual insight, wisdom, and vigilance. Another portrays a man holding a child, believed to be Joseph the Carpenter with Jesus Christ, flanked by disciples and Coptic writings.
The building's layout includes parallel halls and rooms on the first level, with a descending staircase leading to a lower level containing cells and living rooms. Artifacts found within include a tombstone of a saint with Coptic inscriptions, amphorae bearing Coptic letters, a stone frieze with animal decorations, and various pottery vessels.
Excavation work continues to uncover the building's secrets and significance. The Manqabad antiquities area, first identified in 1965, has been subject to intermittent excavations, with the current Egyptian-led efforts aiming to fully understand this newly discovered Coptic-era structure.