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| Peter Jason |
 Posted: Wed Jan 07, 2004 8:13 pm |
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I saw many examples of these crosses in the temples, usually high up on the
walls, and I wonder if anyone knows when these were put up there. Also why
are there no Islamic symbols on the temple walls, especially since the
structures must have been in good condition around 650AD. |
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| Ken Down |
| Posted: Thu Jan 08, 2004 1:36 am |
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In article <btiand$2571$1@otis.netspace.net.au>, "Peter Jason"
<paul@colonel.com.au> wrote:
[quote:d683303ce9]I saw many examples of these crosses in the temples, usually high up on
the walls, and I wonder if anyone knows when these were put up there.
Also why are there no Islamic symbols on the temple walls, especially
since the structures must have been in good condition around 650AD.
[/quote:d683303ce9]
Egypt was a completely Christian country from around 250 AD to the Muslim
conquest. The temples, therefore, were either used as quarries or converted
to other purposes - and one such purpose was as churches (or rather, rooms
within the temple were used for such purposes. The height of the crosses may
indicate that the temple was partially buried with silt or sand.
There are plenty of Islamic symbols - the vandalising of the images. Some of
this, of course, was done by Christians, but much was done by Muslims and,
unfortunately, is still being done. How much of this is religious fanaticism
and how much simple vandalism is a moot point; after all, the yobs who
destroy phone booths and bus shelters in Australia are not motivated by
religion.
Ken Down
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| Hadfield |
| Posted: Tue Jan 13, 2004 12:24 pm |
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"Peter Jason" <paul@colonel.com.au> wrote in message
news:btiand$2571$1@otis.netspace.net.au...
[quote:8f2a6b407e]I saw many examples of these crosses in the temples, usually high up on
the
walls, and I wonder if anyone knows when these were put up there. Also
why
are there no Islamic symbols on the temple walls, especially since the
structures must have been in good condition around 650AD.
As far as I know, one of the reasons for this is that the Copts were very[/quote:8f2a6b407e]
much concerned with removing images of the old gods as pagan symbols, and
then using their temples as refuges/churches, while they were getting
established. At Dendera, they defaced virtually every Hathor column. They
also defaced much of the wall carvings at Philae. So, much of the iconoclasm
happened before Islamic times. Islam, being slightly more tolerant than
Christianity, respected the old buildings - only using them as quarries!
Stan Kurowski
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