The Church Complex of Ain el-Gedida, Dakhleh Oasis

Abstract

The Dakhleh Oasis has proved-- and continues to be-- a rich source of information on the earliest development of Christianity in fourth-century Egypt, thanks to several documentary and archaeological finds. In particular, the work carried out on the churches of Kellis and currently at Deir Abu Matta by Gillian Bowen has substantially increased our knowledge of Early Christian architecture in the oasis. It is in this context that the recent excavation project conducted at Ain el-Gedida provides a valuable contribution, as it offers new significant evidence on the development of religious architecture within fourth-century Egypt and more broadly, on the flourishing of Christian communities in a rural environment. The aim of this essay is to present a preliminary discussion of the evidence gathered particularly for the church complex of Ain el-Gedida and to highlight its significance.