The Monasteries and Monks of Nubia
By (author) A. Obluski
The aim of this book is to present the material record of Nubian monasticism in a systematic manner and to conduct a comparative analysis of this phenomenon. This book also addresses several fundamental issues, for instance the presence of various forms of monasticism (hermitages, laurae and coenobitic monasteries) in Nubia and their spatial organisation. The source base for reconstructing the monastic movement in Nubia, or rather life in individual monasteries, is largely archaeological and epigraphic. Looking beyond Nubia is motivated not only by the desire to find reference points in centres that influenced the formation of the Nubian civilisation, but also because such parallels are indispensable for the interpretation of archaeological finds. One of the fundamental questions posed repeatedly in this book concerns the models that inspired the creators of monastic communities in Nubia. The geographic arguments point primarily to Egypt, but other regions of the Late Antique East should not be ruled out prematurely. We have, for instance, sound evidence for Syrian influence on the culture of Christian Nubia, especially liturgy. Also Constantinople, a core region of the Eastern Mediterranean and the imperial capital, must be considered as a possible source of inspiration. Thus far, attempts to characterise Nubian monasticism in a synthetic manner have taken the form of short articles limited mostly to discussion of architectural features. In addition, with the notable exception of Adam ?ajtar’s ad-hoc publications spurred by the emergence of new evidence, no study published to date collects and discusses the various titles associated with the monastic milieu, investigating who stood at the head of coenobitic communities, what their internal organisation was like, and how the monastic, ecclesiastical and spiritual hierarchies were intertwined. Another area in need of investigation is the relationship between Nubian monks and society, including the roles they played in lay communities and whether they really ‘abandoned’ the world at large. The book seeks to determine whether the Nubian elites perceived monastics as a threat to their dominant position in the social hierarchy, or rather collaborated with monks, taking advantage of the fact that monasteries offered human resources with highly esteemed and useful skills that proved helpful, if not indispensable, in managing non-monastic communities ranging from individual settlements to the state.
- By (author) A. Obluski
"The work is lavishly illustrated—hardly a page goes by without multiple pictures, maps, or floorplans—and well documented, with table after table of references to support every stage of discussion." Ruffini, Giovanni R., Church History, October 2, 2023
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Other Titles in this Series
Bishops and Bishoprics in Egypt, Nubia, and Ethiopia (Fourth-Fourteenth Centuries)
Religious Authorities, Episcopal Seats, and Interactions in Local and Regional Perspectives
Volume 45
Monastic Microtheologies
Religious Expressions and Imagery in the Monastic Letters from Western Thebes
Volume 42
Liturgical Poetry in Christian Nubia
The Evidence of the Wall Inscriptions in the Lower Church at Banganarti
Volume 38
A Late Christian Pilgrimage Centre in Nubia
The Evidence of Wall Inscriptions in the Upper Church at Banganarti
Volume 39
Monks and the Hierarchical Church in Egypt and the Levant during Late Antiquity
With a Chapter on Persian Christians in Late Antiquity by Adam Izdebski
Volume 40
Monks and the Hierarchical Church in Egypt and the Levant during Late Antiquity
With a Chapter on Persian Christians in Late Antiquity by Adam Izdebski
Volume 40
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