Deir al-Ganadla
A Unique Coptic Church in Middle Egypt
By (author) Mohamed Kenawi By (author) Jessica Distefano
Paperback (Published)
(April 2026)
ISBN: 9781919314303
6.02 x 9.02 inches
Price: $19.95
In stock
Deir al-Ganadla stands as one of the most extraordinary Coptic monastic sites of Middle Egypt. The church preserves rare architectural elements and mural paintings dating from the sixth to the twelfth centuries, crowned by a painted ceiling unlike any other in Egypt.
Hidden among the rugged mountains of Middle Egypt lies a remarkable monastery carved into a remote and scarcely accessible quarry. Within this quarry church survives an extraordinary cycle of frescoes, unique in Egypt and preserved across the centuries. This book reveals and documents this exceptional artistic and historical treasure, bringing to light a heritage site that has long remained little known. Through detailed study and vivid documentation, it uncovers the story of the monastery, its art, and the community that has sustained its spiritual life. The book also offers new insights into a little-explored landscape and the broader artistic traditions of Middle Egypt. As part of an ongoing initiative to highlight and preserve similar heritage sites across the region, it seeks to make these remarkable monuments accessible not only to specialists, but also to general readers and visitors interested in Egypt’s rich cultural legacy.
Introduction
The ‘New’ Church (c. 19th century)
The Layout of the Quarry Church of St. Mary the Virgin
The Artistic Programme of the Quarry Church
The Niches
The Screen Wall with Reused Funerary and Architectural Elements – East Wall
Mural Paintings
The Ceiling
The Inscription of Deir al-Ganadla
The Surrounding Landscape – Remote Sensing Survey
Conclusion
Acknowledgements
Bibliography
Online Text Sources
Illustration Credit
Mohamed Kenawi is an archaeologist specialising in Hellenistic and Roman archaeology. He is a Research Associate at the School of Heritage and Culture, University of Leicester. He has taught at the American University in Cairo, the Alexandria Center for Hellenistic Studies, Catania University, the Arab Academy for Science and Technology, and Al-Farabi Kazakh National University.
- By (author) Mohamed Kenawi
- By (author) Jessica Distefano
Similar Books
The Western Nile Delta
ARCE Fieldwork in the Region of Kom Firin and Naukratis (1977-1983) Revisited
Archaeological Discoveries at the Temple of Ramesses II in Abydos
Vol. 2: Old Kingdom Wall, Papyri, Ostraca, and Leather Remains
The Southern Room of Amun in the Temple of Hatshepsut
Volume 2: Studies on Decoration and Ritual Function
Volume 11
Die Ägyptenworte im Ezechielbuch
Eine literarhistorische und religionsgeschichtliche Analyse von Ez 29–32
Du côté de chez Zeus
Fouilles de la Mission archéologique française du désert Oriental à Abû Qurayya (Dios) et Bi’r Bayza (y inclus O.Dios I 1-67)
Volume 98
La littérature de l’Égypte ancienne. Volume V
Nouvel Empire : XVIIIe dynastie. Eulogies et narrations royales, contes, enseignements et littérature d’idée
Lehrreiche Literatur
Die didaktische Gestaltung von Plutarchs Quaestiones Graecae und Romanae und Gellius' Noctes Atticae
Nouvelles perspectives sur le Traité anonyme du Codex Bruce. New Perspectives on the Untitled Treatise of the Bruce Codex
(Colloque international, Québec, Université Laval, 13 avril 2018)
Volume 11
Ägypten und Levante XXXIV / Egypt and the Levant XXXIV (2024)
Internationale Zeitschrift für ägyptische Archäologie und deren Nachbargebiete / International Journal for Egyptian Archaeology and Related Disciplines
Ancient Egypt in 50 Discoveries
Highlights from the first century of the Egypt Exploration Society
Volume 8
Archaeological Discoveries at the Temple of Ramesses II in Abydos
Vol. 1: Magazines, Animal Burials, and Miscellanea
Building an 18th Dynasty Tomb at Thebes
Construction Records from Mery's Funerary Complex (TT 95) in Context
Volume 4
Current Research in Egyptology 2024
Proceedings of the Twenty-Fourth Annual Symposium, Jointly Organised by the University of Liverpool, Swansea University, University of Birmingham, University of Oxford, and University of Wales Trinity Saint David, 2–6 September 2024
From Egypt to the Levant and Beyond
African Individuals and Groupsain Cuneiform Texts from the Late Bronze Age
Volume 133
