The medieval churches of Banganarti

The village of Banganarti is situated 10 kilometres from Old Dongola. It was once an important Christian pilgrim center, with the remains of a substantial medieval church standing as a testament to its sacred past. Today, the remains of this ancient church, known as Raphaelion II, stand as a silent witness to the pilgrims who visited this site.

Many ancient inscriptions adorn the walls, bearing the names of Nubian kings and other prominent figures, such as a queen mother. The church served as a pilgrimage center from the mid-eleventh to the mid-eighteenth century. Among the 57 preserved wall paintings, 13 were hieratic depictions of a king. Large figurative scenes showing a Nubian king protected by an Archangel surrounded by the Apostles are typical.

The site consists of two successive buildings, dating respectively to the seventh and the eleventh century. The Lower Church dates to the seventh century, while the younger building, the Upper Church, is called Raphaelion II after its patron, Archangel Raphael. The Lower Church contains one of the oldest images of the Virgin Mary.

Several burials were discovered inside the older building. Wall paintings are among the most important discoveries made in Banganarti. Fifteen were uncovered on the walls of the Lower Church, but they were in much worse condition than the ones decorating the interior of Raphaelion II. The iconographical program of the Upper Church is undoubtedly rooted in political theology and royal propaganda.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons