Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 29.djvu/154

 121 Tin: ANCIENT CUIM TITIAN ^^lll UCIIES OF MTSII EL lo. rictures. Tliesc arc cliicHy affixcil to the screens. They are executed in the stilV Byzantine style. Some appear to be of considerable antiquity. 16. Triangles and brazen cymbals used in chanting the services. 17. Inmiense wooden chairs used by the Bishop or as a stand for the Evangelisterion. IS. Ancient Arabic glass lamps. Not moi"e than tYO or three of these now remain, and these specimens are of plain white or blue glass. ID. ^Standing candlesticks of lai'ge size of wood, iron, and brass. 20. Crowns of silver used to place upon the heads of the bride and brideirrooms at weddings. 21, Silver ornaments in the shape of rounded fans, generally embossed with the figures of Ciierubs or Saints. Small tapers are sometimes stuck uj^on them during Divine Service. I now proceed to speak in detail of the Dayrs as they occur, beginning at the end next Cairo. I. Daijr Mart Meena. This Convent is situated a little way outside the city gate, near the beginning of the Mounds of Fostat. It contains an ancient church dedicated to S. Menas, a saint who iluurished at the beginning of the f(jurth century. The chief Convent which bore his name, which is interesting as recording that of the first recorded King of Egypt, was at Alexandria, where to this day, as also in other places in Egypt, terra-cotta bottles are fi'c- rpiently found bearing the name and efiigy of the Saint. In the Church of Mari Afcena is a very curious ancient brass ran<ll(.-sti(.-k in the form of two dragons with retorted heads, and with the tails meeting ami inteitwined in the centre. Seventeen candles were placed in holders attached to the heads ami along the back of the dragons. The j)ulpit is a good specimen oi Opus AlcAiuidrinnin, executed in anticjue marbles. In this Cliurch may still lie found suspended in .situ, and still in use, an ancMcnt .Arabic glass lamp of ])lMin blue glass. Attached to (he south aisle of the nave is another Church or chapel, lor long in the occupation of the comiiiunity of Syrian Christ iaiis, but now again, in conse- r|ueiice of tlicir (limini>he(l unmbers, n>sloi-e(| to the (/opts. Hard by is an Armenian liuri.il-gioiin<l and Church,