Ghazali is an important archaeological site of the medieval Nubian Kingdom of Makuria, situated 12 kilometers from the Nile near the mouth of the Wadi Abu Dom, the valley crossing the Bayuda desert, which was once an important trade route. The site was home to a settlement, ironworks, cemeteries as well as a large monastery containing two churches, dormitories, a dining compound, kitchens, water storage facilities and the largest so far identified medieval Nubian sanitary complex including a row of 18 toilets. A large number of inscriptions in Coptic and Old Nubian were also found at Ghazali.
Construction of the monastery is believed to have started under king Merkurios of Makuria (r. 697 - c. 722) who united Makuria with the more northern Nubian Kingdom of Nobatia.
“The center of monks’ spiritual life inside the monastery consisted of two churches: Northern and Southern. The Northern Church, a typical Makurian church, was erected presumably between 680 and 720, with a basilical layout. In the first phase, it had three aisles and a flat roof resting on arches supported by granite columns. The lower parts of walls were built of sandstone, the upper of baked brick. The painted decoration that covered them was preserved only in two rooms. The Southern Church, built entirely of mud bricks at the turn of the 11th century, had a trapezoidal plan. Its naos was not tripartite, which is unusual for Makurian architecture. Elements of furnishing, such as a synthronon (a bench for clergy in the sanctuary) or a pulpit, have been preserved in both churches.” -Polish Centre of Mediterranean Archaeology, University of Warsaw
Pictured is an aerial photograph of the archaeological site by Artur Obluski, followed by a 3D reconstruction of the monastery by the Polish Centre of Mediterranean Archaeology, superimposed on the site.
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