Abu Mena

30.8410529.663488888889Koordinaten: 30 ° 50 ' 28 " N, 29 ° 39' 49 " O

Abu Mena (Abu Mina ) is a place in the desert Mariut, in the district of Burg al-Arab (Egypt). It is one of the most important Christian pilgrimage shrines of late antiquity. In 1979 it became a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Since the mid-20th century, a newly established Coptic monastery in Abu Mena is one of the most important places of Christian life in Egypt.

History

Since the end of the 4th century a pilgrim center, the city was expanded moderately until the beginning of the 7th century, developed at the tomb of Saint Menas. It was destroyed during the Persian occupation to 619. Since 629 small reconstruction work took place and in the year 643 the place to the Monophysite Coptic aligned country church was passed. In subsequent time a completely new look for other maxims directing settlement has been built over the ruins of the old city. The latter was abandoned in the 10th or 11th century. Even today, Mina is a titular of the Roman Catholic Church.

History of Research

Discovered and first explored the place by Carl Maria Merchant of 1905 until 1907. Further investigation was carried out on site by the Greek -Roman Museum in Alexandria in 1925 and 1929 and by JB Ward Perkins 1942. 's New excavations began in 1959 by the Coptic Museum in Cairo. Since 1961, the Cairo Department of the German Archaeological Institute leads there through excavations.

In addition to numerous church buildings an entire city has been preserved from the late antiquity.

Endangering

2001 Abu Mena was added to the Red List of World Heritage in Danger, as it is threatened by agricultural irrigation, funded by the World Bank, of the destruction. Due to the rising groundwater, the mechanical properties of the existing clay subsoil change. As this is the building can no longer wear, the Egyptian authorities, the foundations of monuments had to be partially backfilled with sand. Furthermore, it was necessary to close the crypt of St. Menas to the public.