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Showing posts from August, 2021

The Catacombs of Kom el-Shuqafa in Alexandria

  At the front of the tomb, there are two columns topped with Egyptian composite anta capitals . These columns support an architrave, above which the viewer will find a relief of a central winged sun disc flanked by Horus falcons. Above the central winged sun disc is a simple circle (also presumably a sun disc). The area behind the columns functions much like an antechamber, where the outer façade of the principal tomb can be found. The antechamber forms a rectangle: the Egyptian columns are parallel with the outer façade, with female and male statue niches on each side. The façade  functions as the entrance into the inner tomb. Above this entrance is another relief of a central winged sun disc. An agathodaemon (a benevolent spirit) in the form of a snake is carved on the left and right side of the entrance façade. Each snake wears the Double Crown of Egypt and is wrapped around a thyrsus and caduceus staff. A gorgoneion on a shield (reminiscent of Athena’s shield or aegi...

The Catacombs of Kom el-Shuqafa in Alexandria

 The loculi on the first and second underground levels were created after the principal tomb was completed, but at an uncertain date.20 Many loculi have depressions in the ground that loosely mimic the shape of the human body with a space for the head  This suggests inhumation burial rather than cremation. More than 300 people were buried in the loculi of the second underground level.21 Additionally, multiple people were often stacked in each loculus