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Megan McCormick explores tombs with a Coptic Priest
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Early Egyptian beliefs
The religious beliefs of modern Egypt are very different from
that of two millennia ago. Long before it was an Islamic country,
Egypt's primary religious belief system was a form of Christianity.
The country was one of the first to accept Christianity after
it was brought there as early as 40 AD by missionaries, but
it was over 300 years before it was officially adopted as
the official religion. These followers were called Copts,
and actually split from the branch of the Byzantine Orthodox
church after a dispute erupted over the divinity of Christ;
Copts refused to accept Christ as anything but divine and
refused to believe, as the Byzantine Church believed, that
Christ was both human and divine.
Coptic Art
The most visible legacy left in Egypt today from the ancient
Copts are the paintings, sculptures and art they left behind.
For the many illiterate Coptic believers, the paintings on
ceilings and walls served as picture Bibles that showed famous
events. Though almost 1800 years old, many are still vibrant
and colourful.
The oldest frescoes were painted in Alexandria, and
they extended southwards along the Nile as the religion spread.
The styles also changed from very basic early scenes to more
elaborate depictions of plants and animal forms, including
events in the lives of Adam and Eve and Jesus. Greek and Persian
art also influenced the style, particularly the sculptures
and carvings.
Where to see Coptic art and tombs
The Coptic Museum in Cairo is an excellent introduction
to Coptic art, and can make an interesting visit before heading
south to see more.
The most famous place to see Coptic paintings is in Bagawat near the Kharga oasis in southern Egypt. 233 sites
here containing paintings, many in monasteries and churches
which can be visited, making Bagawat an interesting excursion
from Luxor or stop off on a desert trek. Though there is a
sizeable minority of Egyptians who still practice this religion
(less than 10% of the country's population), the tombs left
behind by Copts in Bagawat are the most interesting historical
link to these people. They are easily visited while on a trek
to the Western Desert, though you will need to give
a small tip to a local who can unlock the more interesting
tombs for you to see the frescoes and paintings, still visible
after almost twenty centuries.
A visit to Bagawat offers a glimpse into the time before Islam,
which was introduced in 642 AD, and is now practiced by 90%
of Egyptians, making Egypt the largest Muslim country, in
terms of inhabitants, on earth.
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