Well-Preserved Late Antique Christian Church Found Along Pilgrimage Site in Northern Egypt

['Francesca Aton', '.Wp-Block-Co-Authors-Plus-Coauthors.Is-Layout-Flow', 'Class', 'Wp-Block-Co-Authors-Plus', 'Display Inline', '.Wp-Block-Co-Authors-Plus-Avatar', 'Where Img', 'Height Auto Max-Width', 'Vertical-Align Bottom .Wp-Block-Co-Authors-Plus-Coauthors.Is-Layout-Flow .Wp-Block-Co-Authors-Plus-Avatar', 'Vertical-Align Middle .Wp-Block-Co-Authors-Plus-Avatar Is .Alignleft .Alignright'] ARTnews.com 2025-09-23 18:21:34

Excavations along a popular pilgrimage route on the southern shore of Lake Mareotis in northern Egypt revealed a well-preserved Christian church from late antiquity, according to a new study published in the journal Antiquity. Archaeologists from the University of Warsaw’s Faculty of Archaeology and the Polish Centre of Mediterranean Archaeology have been working at Philoxenite, a stop along a popular pilgrimage route to the shrine of St Menas at Abu Mena, from 2021 through 2024. Additional rooms were added and changed in later building phases. While alterations suggest the need for adaptation over time, the quality of masonry and decorated flooring indicate the site’s importance along the pilgrimage route. It also sheds light on Late Antique building practices.