Greco-Roman cities at the crossroads of cultures : the 20th anniversary of Polish-Egyptian conservation mission Marina El-Alamein

The ancient town discovered at the site of today’s Marina el-Alamein (located on the northern coast of Egypt) developed from the 2nd century BC to the 6th century AD. It found itself at the crossroads of several civilisations: Hellenic, later replaced by Roman, and ultimately Christian, and was always strongly influenced by Egyptian tradition. A variety of cultures appeared and met here and grew in strength – then their significance weakened – but they always co-existed and influenced one another. The syncretism prevailing here is notable in the spheres of art, architecture, religion and worship. 2015 marked thirty years since the discovery of the remains of the ancient city, which, for many centuries, had been unknown to the world. The remains were found unexpectedly during the preparatory work for the construction of a modern tourist settlement on the Mediterranean coast, and the significance and extraordinary value of the discovery was immediately recognised. Now the ancient city, and the historic remains of its buildings, are gradually coming to light. The Jubilee was twofold, since 2015 marked also the 20th anniversary of the setting up of the Polish-Egyptian Conservation Mission, Marina el-Alamein. Throughout this time, both architectural and archaeological research have been carried out at the site, many discoveries have been made, numerous relics of historic building structures have been preserved, and conservation methods have been improved. In the jubilee year, researchers who work on archaeological sites and towns with a similar history and position in the ancient world in the realms of art and culture were invited to contribute to a scientific discussion and exchange of experiences. The contributors were representatives of different disciplines and research methodologies: archaeologists, architects, Egyptologists, specialists in religious studies, historians and conservators. The papers in the present volume encompass interdisciplinary reviews of both new and long-term studies carried out in various regions of the ancient world. The papers present research that was conducted in different regions ranging from ancient Mauritania, through Africa, Egypt, Cyprus, Palestine, Syria, as well as sites in Crimea and Georgia. The topography of cities, the architecture of public buildings, as well as houses and their décor — architectural, sculptural and painted — are presented. Religious syncretism and the importance of ancient texts are discussed. Studies on pottery are also presented. The volume includes studies on the conservation of architectural remains, sculpture and painting. Several articles are devoted to the study of Marina el-Alamein; others talk about ancient Alexandria, Deir el-Bahari, Hermopolis Magna, Bakchias, Pelusium, Kom Wasit, Berenike, Ptolemais, Apollonia, Palmyra, Nea Paphos, as well as Chersonesus Taurica and Apsarus. Table of Contents Preface Greco-Roman Cities at the Crossroads of Cultures – Marina el-Alamein in Egypt – by Wiktor Andrzej Daszewski Hermopolis Magna at the Crossroad of Cultures – by Marek Baranski Marina el-Alamein, Greco-Roman Town in Egypt – by Grazyna Bakowska-Czerner and Rafal Czerner The Roman Thermae in the Citadel of Chersonesus Taurica – by Andrzej B. Biernacki and Elena Klenina Reconstruction of the Western Courtyard of the ‘Hellenistic House’ in Nea Paphos, Cyprus – by Aleksandra Brzozowska-Jawornicka Gonio-Apsarus (Short History and Architectural Review) – by Lana Burkadze Three Ancient Cities of North Africa and their Roman Baths: Tiddis, Timgad, Tipasa. Actual State of Preservation – by Maciej Czapski Pottery from the Early Roman Rubbish Dumps in Berenike, Egypt. Notes on the Material from Trenches 96/14 and 107/15 – by Agnieszka Dzwonek Roman Housing in Palmyra – by Michal Gawlikowski Tell Farama (Pelusium). Roman City on the Mediterranean Coast – by Krzysztof Jakubiak ‘Life after life’ of the House of Leukaktios after the Earthquake in 365 – by Elzbieta Jastrzebowska The Greeks at Kom Wasit (Western Nile Delta), Egypt – by Mohamed Kenawi and Cristina Mondin Survival or Revival? Urban and Architectural Change in Post-Classical Alexandria – by Grzegorz Majcherek Egyptianising Motifs and Alexandrian Influences on Some Elements of Architectural Decoration from Mauretania Tingitana (Morocco) – by Niccolo Mugnai Houses, Architectural Orders and Opera Sectilia: Some Reflections on the Society of Cyrenaica and Egypt During the Imperial Period – by Patrizio Pensabene and Eleonora Gasparini Ptolemais and Apollonia. Some Remarks about the Planning and Functioning of Two Port Cities in Cyrenaica – by Monika Rekowska Σαλμεσχοινιακά – by Alessandro Roccati Diachronic Development of a Settlement in the Fayyum Region: Bakchias in Ptolemaic and Roman Times – by Ilaria Rossetti Attitudes towards Mythological Statues at the Crossroads of Cultures and Religions in Late Antiquity: Alexandria and Beyond – by Carla Sfameni Excavating Bethsaida/Julias. Archaeological Documentation of a Town on the Sea of Galilee – by Ilona Skupinska-Lovset Public Toilets between Greece and Rome: A Neglected Aspect of the Roman Revolution – by Andrzej Wypustek Some Aspects of Urban Space at Ptolemais in Cyrenaica – by Jerzy Zelazowski Conservation Restoration of the Osiride Statues of Hatshepsut in the Lower Portico of the Temple of Hatshepsut in Deir el-Bahari – by Teresa Dziedzic and Mariusz Caban Description of Selected Building Conservation Works Carried Out in the Area of the Ancient Town of Antiphrae Situated at Present in Marina el-Alamein in Egypt – by Wieslaw Grzegorek Conservation and Restoration of Polychrome at the Polish-Egyptian Conservation Mission in Marina el-Alamein – by Marlena Koczorowska The Conservation and Restoration of Works of Architecture and Sculpture by the Polish-Egyptian Conservation Mission in Marina el-Alamein – by Wojciech Osiak The ancient town, discovered at the site of today’s Marina el-Alamein, located on the northern coast of Egypt, developed from the 2nd century BC to the 6th century AD, finding itself at the crossroads of several civilisations: Hellenic, later replaced by Roman, and eventually Christian – and always strongly influenced by Egyptian tradition. A variety of cultures have met and appeared, their prominence flourishing and faltering at different times, but they have always co-existed and influenced one another. The syncretism prevailing here is notable in art, architecture, religion and worship. In 2015, it had been thirty years since the discovery of the remains of the ancient city, which, for many centuries, had been unknown to the world. They were found unexpectedly during the preparatory work for the construction of a modern tourist settlement on the Mediterranean coast, and the significance and extraordinary value of the find was immediately recognised. Now the ancient city, and the historic remains of its buildings, are gradually coming to light. The Jubilee was twofold, since 2015 marked also the 20th anniversary of the setting up of the Polish-Egyptian Conservation Mission, Marina el-Alamein. During this time, architectural and archaeological research has been carried out at the site, many discoveries have been made, numerous relics of historic building structures have been preserved, and conservation methods have been improved. In the jubilee year, we invited researchers who work on archaeological sites and towns with a similar history and position in the ancient world, art and culture, to take part in a scientific discussion and exchange of experience. The authors of the presented papers are representatives of different disciplines and research methodologies: archaeologists, architects, Egyptologists, specialists in religious studies, historians and conservators. The present volume contains an interdisciplinary review of both the newest and long-term studies and achievements made in various regions of the ancient world. Greco-Roman Cities at the Crossroads of Cultures: The 20th Anniversary of Polish-Egyptian Conservation Mission Marina el-Alamein presents papers ranging from ancient Mauritania, through Africa, Egypt, Cyprus, Palestine, Syria, as well as sites in Crimea and Georgia. The topography of cities, architecture of public buildings, as well as houses and their décor – architectural, sculptured and painted – are presented. Religious syncretism and the importance of ancient texts are discussed. Studies on pottery are also presented. The volume includes studies on the conservation of architecture, sculpture and painting. Several articles are devoted to the study of Marina el-Alamein; others talk about ancient Alexandria, Deir el-Bahari, Hermopolis Magna, Bakchias, Pelusium, Kom Wasit, Berenike, Ptolemais, Apollonia, Palmyra, Nea Paphos, as well as Chersonesus Taurica and Apsarus. Cover 1 Title Page 3 Copyright page 4 Contents Page 5 Restoration of the Osiride Statues of Hatshepsut 280 in the Lower Portico of the Temple of Hatshepsut in Deir el-Bahari 280 Some Aspects of Urban Space at Ptolemais in Cyrenaica 262 Jerzy Żelazowski 262 Excavating Bethsaida/Julias. 245 Archaeological Documentation of a Town on the Sea of Galilee 245 Ilona Skupińska-Løvset 245 Public Toilets between Greece and Rome: a Neglected Aspect of the Roman Revolution1 254 Andrzej Wypustek 254 Attitudes towards Mythological Statues 235 at the Crossroads of Cultures and Religions in Late Antiquity: Alexandria and Beyond1 235 Carla Sfameni 235 Diachronic Development of a Settlement in the Fayyum Region: 221 Bakchias in Ptolemaic and Roman Times1 221 Ilaria Rossetti 221 Σαλμεσχοινιακά 215 Alessandro Roccati 215 Ptolemais and Apollonia. 202 Some Remarks about the Planning and Functioning of Two Port Cities in Cyrenaica 202 Monika Rekowska 202 Houses, Architectural Orders and Opera Sectilia: 182 Some Reflections on the Society of Cyrenaica and Egypt During the Imperial Period 182 Patrizio Pensabene and Eleonora Gasparini 182 Egyptianising Motifs and Alexandrian Influences 170 on Some Elements of Architectural Decoration from Mauretania Tingitana (Morocco) 170 Niccolò Mugnai 170 Survival or Revival? Urban and Architectural Change in Post-Classical Alexandria 152 Grzegorz Majcherek 152 The Greeks at Kom Wasit (Western Nile Delta), Egypt 145 Mohamed Kenawi and Cristina Mondin 145 ‘Life after life’ of the House of Leukaktios after the Earthquake in 365 133 Elżbieta Jastrzębowska 133 Tell Farama (Pelusium). Roman City on the Mediterranean Coast 117 Krzysztof Jakubiak 117 Roman Housing in Palmyra 111 Michał Gawlikowski 111 Pottery from the Early Roman Rubbish Dumps in Berenike, Egypt 104 Notes on the Material from Trenches 96/14 and 107/15 104 Agnieszka Dzwonek 104 Three Ancient Cities of North Africa and their Roman Baths: 89 Tiddis, Timgad, Tipasa. Actual State of Preservation 89 Maciej Czapski 89 Gonio-Apsarus (Short History and Architectural Review) 82 Lana Burkadze 82 Reconstruction of the Western Courtyard of the ‘Hellenistic House’ 65 in Nea Paphos, Cyprus 65 Aleksandra Brzozowska-Jawornicka 65 The Roman Thermae in the Citadel of Chersonesus Taurica 48 Andrzej B. Biernacki and Elena Klenina 48 Marina el-Alamein, Greco-Roman Town in Egypt 27 Grażyna Bąkowska-Czerner and Rafał Czerner 27 Hermopolis Magna at the Crossroad of Cultures 15 Marek Barański 15 Greco-Roman Cities at the Crossroads of Cultures – Marina el-Alamein in Egypt 9 Wiktor Andrzej Daszewski 9 Teresa Dziedzic and Mariusz Caban 280 Description of Selected Building Conservation Works 288 Carried Out in the Area of the Ancient Town Of Antiphrae Situated at Present in Marina el-Alamein in Egypt 288 Wiesław Grzegorek 288 Conservation and Restoration of Polychrome 304 at the Polish-Egyptian Conservation Mission in Marina el-Alamein 304 Marlena Koczorowska 304 The Conservation and Restoration of Works of Architecture and Sculpture by the Polish-Egyptian Conservation Mission in Marina el-Alamein 312 Wojciech Osiak 312 Greco-Roman cities,arina el-Alamein,Alexandria,Deir el-Bahari,Hermopolis Magna,Bakchias,Pelusium,Kom Wasit,Berenike,Ptolemais,Apollonia,Palmyra,Nea Paphos,Chersonesus Taurica,Apsarus The ancient town discovered at the site of today's Marina el-Alamein (located on the northern coast of Egypt) developed from the 2nd century BC to the 6th century AD. It found itself at the crossroads of several civilisations: Hellenic, later replaced by Roman, and ultimately Christian, and was always strongly influenced by Egyptian tradition. A variety of cultures appeared and met here and grew in strength - then their significance weakened - but they always co-existed and influenced one another. The syncretism prevailing here is notable in the spheres of art, architecture, religion and worship. 2015 marked thirty years since the discovery of the remains of the ancient city, which, for many centuries, had been unknown to the world. The remains were found unexpectedly during the preparatory work for the construction of a modern tourist settlement on the Mediterranean coast, and the significance and extraordinary value of the discovery was immediately recognised. Now the ancient city, and the historic remains of its buildings, are gradually coming to light. The papers in the present volume encompass interdisciplinary reviews of both new and long-term studies carried out in various regions of the ancient world. The papers present research that was conducted in different regions ranging from ancient Mauritania, through Africa, Egypt, Cyprus, Palestine, Syria, as well as sites in Crimea and Georgia. The topography of cities, the architecture of public buildings, as well as houses and their decor - architectural, sculptural and painted - are presented. Religious syncretism and the importance of ancient texts are discussed. Several articles are devoted to the study of Marina el-Alamein; others talk about ancient Alexandria, Deir el-Bahari, Hermopolis Magna, Bakchias, Pelusium, Kom Wasit, Berenike, Ptolemais, Apollonia, Palmyra, Nea Paphos, as well as Chersonesus Taurica and Apsarus Papers present research from different regions ranging from ancient Mauritania, through Africa, Egypt, Cyprus, Palestine, Syria, as well as sites in Crimea and Georgia. Topics include: topography, architecture, interiors and décor, religious syncretism, the importance of ancient texts, pottery studies and conservation.