Greco-Roman Cities at the Crossroads of Cultures: The 20th Anniversary of Polish-Egyptian Conservation Mission Marina el

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.



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
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