Qift

Government

Koptos / Kebto / Gebtu / Gebtiu / Keft ( ancient Egyptian Gbtjw, today Arab قفط Qift, DMG Qift ) was an Egyptian city in the fifth nome of Upper Egypt on the east bank of the Nile.

City ​​History

Koptos was later Gaumetropole and religious center. A particularly short overland connection from the Nile to the Red Sea resulted in this city, which is why she had long been an important trading center of the ancient Egyptians. A caravan could then complete the course in five days. In the nearby Wadi Foahir supposed to Egyptian sources, have found one of the three largest gold mines in the country.

A special heyday this city under the Romans, she was still the starting point for the caravans in the direction of the port cities ( Myos Hormos and Bernice ) of the Red Sea, who lived again from India trade. In Koptos was also found that Nicanor archive, which belonged to a family of merchants from the Roman imperial period. It also inscriptions have been found which show the presence palmyrischer business.

Koptos was destroyed in the 3rd century AD after a rebellion against Diocletian, but was rebuilt shortly afterwards. The city was an important bishopric in Christian times. Phoibammon, in 431, is the first known bishop of the city. A further important bishop was Pisentius of Koptos, which was an important theologian and numerous writings left behind and was revered as a saint after his death. From this time the remains of a 70 m long church, which was built in part of spolia and perhaps represent the remains of the bishop's church come. Under Emperor Justinian, the city was renamed Justinianopolis, and was also in the Islamic period of some importance.

Cultic significance

The deity Min as place God had in Koptos high reputation. The close connection between Horus and Min also allowed for Isis, as the wife of Min, a cultic worship.

Temple of El- Qala

Archaeological finds in the temple of El- Qala confirm the high reverence of crocodiles. As a standard of Gaus were two hawks, which were later continued as a raven cult. Remains of three Min Colossi be dated to the Early Dynastic period. The whole temple complex is occupied since the Old Kingdom. From the First Intermediate come some royal decrees that were once installed well in the temple area. In the main temple have blocks on a monumental gate of Sesostris I. There were blocks of a chapel of Nub - cheper -Re Anjotef from the Second Intermediate Period. From this period dates edited by him Koptos decree. Furthermore, there are the remains of a temple gate of Thutmose III.

The temple was rebuilt entirely under Ptolemy II and was at this time a double temple with two main gates, the Min, Isis, and Hor -pa - chered was consecrated. The building was once about 50 × 100 m tall and stand on a platform. Two steps led up to the temple proper. Directly behind them, there was probably a pronaos, whose columns were not seen in 1893, but have since disappeared. The columns were once about 10 m high and had Hathor. From the Blessed Sacrament, however, already lacked all traces. Before the temple two further double doors could be excavated, a Roman and a built by Ptolemy II.