Scholars have
been investigating a group of medieval churches at Banganarti in modern Sudan, on the Nile between the third and fourth cataracts. The sanctuary was a center of healing and pilgrimage dedicated to Raphael, the angel who became in medieval Christianity the patron saint of the blind. Above is a reconstruction of how the Upper Church looked in AD 1100.
Fresco of Saint Damian.
Portrait of a Nubian ruler named King David.
One of the many inscriptions found at the site is in Catalan, written by a man 2000 miles from home. It says, "when Benesec came to pay homage to Raphael."
The man in this sketch is identified as Deif Ali, Arabic for "Ali the Guest." He was probably a Muslim. Since he is depicted as blind, he probably came to pray to Raphael for help with his infirmity.
In the lower church, built around AD 600, are amazing frescoes done in a style more western than Byzantine, suggesting further connections to Europe. These are damned souls in hell.
Scholars have been investigating a group of medieval churches at Banganarti in modern Sudan, on the Nile between the third and fourth cataracts. The sanctuary was a center of healing and pilgrimage dedicated to Raphael, the angel who became in medieval Christianity the patron saint of the blind. Above is a reconstruction of how the Upper Church looked in AD 1100.
Fresco of Saint Damian.
Portrait of a Nubian ruler named King David.
One of the many inscriptions found at the site is in Catalan, written by a man 2000 miles from home. It says, "when Benesec came to pay homage to Raphael."
The man in this sketch is identified as Deif Ali, Arabic for "Ali the Guest." He was probably a Muslim. Since he is depicted as blind, he probably came to pray to Raphael for help with his infirmity.
In the lower church, built around AD 600, are amazing frescoes done in a style more western than Byzantine, suggesting further connections to Europe. These are damned souls in hell.
No comments:
Post a Comment