ORNAMENTAL DECORATION OF THE EARLY CHRISTIAN MAUSOLEUM CHAPEL OF EXODUS (KHARGA OASIS, EGYPT): ROLE, CONNOTATIONS, DATING

Abstract

The Chapel of Exodus is a small Coptic mausoleum located in the outskirts of the oasis of Kharga in Libyan Desert (Egypt). It is famous for its elaborated pictorial program which is loosely dated back to the late 4th through the early 5th century A.D. While its figure paintings have long been under the academic scrutiny, the decorative program has not so far attracted the scholars’ attention. Meanwhile, the non-figured decorations usually tell the story of their own, and the study of the decorative programs can be highly enlightening. This is exactly the case of the Chapel of Exodus. The style and color palette of the decorative paintings stand in stark contrast to the figure scenes. While the latter look rather outdated for the suggested timespan, the former seem precocious in many ways. The decorative program is holistic, polychromic and rich in ornamental motifs, which is unusual for Egyptian murals of the 5th century A.D., while being characteristic of the 6th century decorations of Christian churches. Painted imitations of spiral fluted columns also support the idea of later dating. Moreover, the holistic character of the program and accent on precious stone veneer imitations underline the high status of the mausoleum owner. It seems plausible that by the time when the decorative program was added (presumably, in the 6th century), the 5th century mausoleum had become an important commemorative monument.