Kirche der Granitsäulen, Medieval church ruins in Old Dongola, Sudan
The Church of Granite Columns stands on an elevation near the Nile River, featuring sixteen granite and gneiss columns that divided the interior space.
The structure replaced a three-nave basilica between 550 and 650, during a period when Arab forces besieged the Makurian capital of Old Dongola.
The church incorporated both Nubian and Syrian-Armenian architectural elements, reflecting the diverse influences in medieval Christian Nubia.
The archaeological site requires advance planning for visits, as it lies 450 kilometers northwest of Khartoum in a desert environment.
The church contained ceramic window grilles and terracotta tabernacle fragments, indicating sophisticated construction techniques in medieval Sudan.
GPS coordinates: 18.22583,30.74194
Latest update: March 4, 2025 09:28
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