Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 29.djvu/158

 12S THE ANCIENT CII1!I>TIAX CIirRCIlES OF MUSR EL Sltt Miriam. No. 2. One of the most interesting cliiirclies in the neighbourhood of Cairo. It is partly ereetcJ in one of the bastion towers of the Roman gateway of Babylon, and being approached by a lofty staircase with a vaulted roof of brick, it is termed 7:7 Moalluka (the Suspended). This church has five aisles, the principal of which are supported on either side by pillars of marble and granite. One or two t)f these, from the inti'oduction of the Cross amidst the Corinthianizing foliage of the capitals, appear to belong to Roman Christian times. Beams of wood, covered with ancient Coptic inscriptions, extend uninterruptedly along upon the top of the capitals and across a series of pointed arches, one of which rises above and between each pair of jiillars. The lofty roofs are of wood. In the piincipal aisle stands a remarkable pulpit. It is of marble, supported on fifteen pillars, and ornamented with mosaics. Its marble staircase is ornamented with two sculptured crosses. A certain Patriarch, named Abraham, lies buried under this ])u]pit. The principal screen is exquisitely sculptured in wood and ivory, and over it are good paintings of our Lord and saints and angels. Two other screens are also very fine. The woods used are cedar and ebony. In a small space, between the central and left-hand altar-chapels, are preserved the two leaves of a cedar door, sculptured with great delicacy, spirit, and elegance. This is without doubt the finest piece of ancient Christian sculpture in Egypt, and deserves the closest inspection. It is nuich to be regretted that it has never been engraved. The two upper compart- ments represent crosses amidst interlacing foliage, carved at difiercnt depths. The other comj)artinents display the following subjects : — the Adoration of the i^Iagi, our Lord's Baptism, His Last Entiy into Jerusalem, His Ascension, the Descent of the Holy Spirit, and anotlu.'r subject which I jiave not been able satisfactorily to identify. Over each of the altars is an ancient baldachino of wood, sn])porte(l on marble columns. In this Church there is the example, so far as I knc^w, unicjuo in a Church, though of course common enough in Mosfpies, of a window of stained glass. In one of the aisles a portion of the pavcniont is executed in marble mosaic, and in oik? of the cupboards i discovered an ancient broken lamj) of jilain white glass. Ill the cjiapi'l, caljiil (jp- "('h;ipcl of thr rjlliiojiians," a