Abu Mena (was a city, a monastic complex and center of the pilgrimage of the first centuries of Christianity in late Antiquity, is located in Egypt, about 50 km southwest of Alexandria. Its remains were declared a World Heritage Site in 1979). few remains remain, but the foundations of most of the main buildings, such as the great basilica, are easily discernible.
Recent agricultural development in the area has led to a significant increase in groundwater level, which has caused several buildings on the site to collapse or become unstable. The site was added to the List of World Heritage in Danger in 2001. Authorities were forced to place sand on the bases of buildings that are most endangered on the site.
History
Menas of Alexandria was a martyr in the late third or early fourth century (see Early Christianity). Several accounts from the 5th century and later give slightly different versions of his burial and the later founding of his church. According to tradition, his body was moved by camel from Alexandria to the desert, beyond Lake Mareotis. At some point, the camel refused to continue walking, despite all efforts to stop it. This was taken as a sign of divine will, and the assistants of the body buried him at that point.
Most versions of the story state that the location of the tomb has since been forgotten, until its miraculous rediscovery by a local pastor.
News of the pastor's healing powers spread rapidly. The synaxarium describes that Constantine I sent his sick daughter to the pastor to cure her, and claims to have found the body of Menas, after which Constantine ordered the construction of a church on the site. (Some versions of history replace Constantine with Emperor Zeno, but archaeologists have dated the original foundation to the end of the 4th century). At the end of the 4th century it was a significant place of pilgrimage for Christians seeking healing and other miracles. The Menas bottle was a particular type of terracotta ampoule sold to pilgrims as a container for holy water or sacred oils, it is widely distributed. around the Western Mediterranean, and date from about a century and a half before the Muslim conquest. They were made cheaply but were printed with images of the saint that are relevant in the study of iconography, presumably made around the city.
During the reign of Arcadio, the local archbishop observed that the crowds overflowed the small church. He wrote to the emperor of the east, who ordered a great expansion of the facilities, the first of the three great extensions of the church to be made in this place. At the end of the Late Antiquity period, Abu Mena became the main place of pilgrimage in Egypt.
Archaeological excavations
The site was first excavated between 1905 and 1907. These efforts uncovered a large basilica church, an adjacent church that would probably house the saint's remains, and Roman baths.
A series of subsequent long-term DAI excavations were completed in 1998. More recent excavations have uncovered a large dormitory for poor pilgrims, with separate wings for men and for women and children. A complex south of the great basilica was probably the residence of the "hegoumenos," or abbots. Excavations suggest that a large genodocheion, a reception area for pilgrims, may have been a cemetery. A baptistery, adjacent to the site of the original church, appears to have undergone at least three stages of development. A wine press complex was also discovered, including underground storage rooms, dating from the 6th and 7th centuries.
Recent agricultural development in the area has led to a significant increase in groundwater level, which has caused several buildings on the site to collapse or become unstable. The site was added to the List of World Heritage in Danger in 2001. Authorities were forced to place sand on the bases of buildings that are most endangered on the site.
History
Menas of Alexandria was a martyr in the late third or early fourth century (see Early Christianity). Several accounts from the 5th century and later give slightly different versions of his burial and the later founding of his church. According to tradition, his body was moved by camel from Alexandria to the desert, beyond Lake Mareotis. At some point, the camel refused to continue walking, despite all efforts to stop it. This was taken as a sign of divine will, and the assistants of the body buried him at that point.
Most versions of the story state that the location of the tomb has since been forgotten, until its miraculous rediscovery by a local pastor.
News of the pastor's healing powers spread rapidly. The synaxarium describes that Constantine I sent his sick daughter to the pastor to cure her, and claims to have found the body of Menas, after which Constantine ordered the construction of a church on the site. (Some versions of history replace Constantine with Emperor Zeno, but archaeologists have dated the original foundation to the end of the 4th century). At the end of the 4th century it was a significant place of pilgrimage for Christians seeking healing and other miracles. The Menas bottle was a particular type of terracotta ampoule sold to pilgrims as a container for holy water or sacred oils, it is widely distributed. around the Western Mediterranean, and date from about a century and a half before the Muslim conquest. They were made cheaply but were printed with images of the saint that are relevant in the study of iconography, presumably made around the city.
During the reign of Arcadio, the local archbishop observed that the crowds overflowed the small church. He wrote to the emperor of the east, who ordered a great expansion of the facilities, the first of the three great extensions of the church to be made in this place. At the end of the Late Antiquity period, Abu Mena became the main place of pilgrimage in Egypt.
Archaeological excavations
The site was first excavated between 1905 and 1907. These efforts uncovered a large basilica church, an adjacent church that would probably house the saint's remains, and Roman baths.
A series of subsequent long-term DAI excavations were completed in 1998. More recent excavations have uncovered a large dormitory for poor pilgrims, with separate wings for men and for women and children. A complex south of the great basilica was probably the residence of the "hegoumenos," or abbots. Excavations suggest that a large genodocheion, a reception area for pilgrims, may have been a cemetery. A baptistery, adjacent to the site of the original church, appears to have undergone at least three stages of development. A wine press complex was also discovered, including underground storage rooms, dating from the 6th and 7th centuries.
Threats
The Abu Mena site was added to the List of World Heritage in Danger in 2001 due to the threat of rising local water levels. This increase in water is due to agricultural development programs aimed at reclaiming the land. The hard clay soil surrounding the site can support buildings when dry. However, it becomes unstable when wet and has led to the collapse of cisterns and other structures in the ancient city. As the ground collapses, large cavities form surrounding the upper structures.
Immediate measures were taken to fill the bases of particularly important sites with sand and close them to the public. In attempts to counter this phenomenon, the Supreme Council of Antiquities spent $ 45 million on digging ditches and adding pumps in hopes of lowering irrigation pressure. In addition, a fence was added to prevent invasion and threat. It was a success and the site was removed from the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2009.
Since then, water has continued to rise and has led to the destruction of monuments. The site is once again on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Factors that adversely affect property recently in 2018 include housing, management activities, systems / management plan and water.
Conservation
The Egyptian government has put in place emergency plans and in fact solved the problem with the groundwater level of the water, but the government does not have a comprehensive management plan or anything related. Since UNESCO requires a management plan for all cultural and natural sites. Several proposals were made. The most reliable option is to use a smart and sustainable membrane. It is designed to solve ventilation, energy and water problems on site. The plan was to build a smart dome-shaped membrane. It will provide the site with an adequate amount of airflow required for each World Heritage Site. It also provides self-sufficient power supply through solar cells in the outer layer of the dome. The membrane is designed to have a filtration system to filter water to dehumidify the air so that the site can be better preserved
The Abu Mena site was added to the List of World Heritage in Danger in 2001 due to the threat of rising local water levels. This increase in water is due to agricultural development programs aimed at reclaiming the land. The hard clay soil surrounding the site can support buildings when dry. However, it becomes unstable when wet and has led to the collapse of cisterns and other structures in the ancient city. As the ground collapses, large cavities form surrounding the upper structures.
Immediate measures were taken to fill the bases of particularly important sites with sand and close them to the public. In attempts to counter this phenomenon, the Supreme Council of Antiquities spent $ 45 million on digging ditches and adding pumps in hopes of lowering irrigation pressure. In addition, a fence was added to prevent invasion and threat. It was a success and the site was removed from the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2009.
Since then, water has continued to rise and has led to the destruction of monuments. The site is once again on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Factors that adversely affect property recently in 2018 include housing, management activities, systems / management plan and water.
Conservation
The Egyptian government has put in place emergency plans and in fact solved the problem with the groundwater level of the water, but the government does not have a comprehensive management plan or anything related. Since UNESCO requires a management plan for all cultural and natural sites. Several proposals were made. The most reliable option is to use a smart and sustainable membrane. It is designed to solve ventilation, energy and water problems on site. The plan was to build a smart dome-shaped membrane. It will provide the site with an adequate amount of airflow required for each World Heritage Site. It also provides self-sufficient power supply through solar cells in the outer layer of the dome. The membrane is designed to have a filtration system to filter water to dehumidify the air so that the site can be better preserved
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