Archaeologists have found an ancient Christian church in Artaxata, Armenia. Radiocarbon dating places the structure in the mid-fourth century, making the historic discovery one of the oldest churches in the world. The church features an octagonal design, a shape symbolic in early Christianity.
In this photo gallery, we explore the discovery, as well as another recent find.
Achim Lichtenberger, professor at the University of Münster, said, “Dating to the mid-fourth century AD, it is the oldest archaeologically documented church in the country and provides additional evidence for early Christianity in Armenia.”
Fragments of marble and terracotta tiles suggest the church was lavishly decorated with materials imported from the Mediterranean.
Mkrtich Zardaryan of the National Academy of Sciences in Armenia said, “Octagonal churches were unknown here until now, but we are very familiar with them from the Eastern Mediterranean region, where they first appeared in the fourth century AD.”
In Egypt, archaeologists uncovered the Great Temple of Athribis in Sohag, Egypt, a 2,000-year-old structure dedicated to Min, a fertility god. The temple dates back to King Ptolemy VIII’s reign.
The temple’s pylon, or gate, measured 167 feet wide, with towers 78 feet wide and originally 59 feet tall. Hieroglyphic texts adorned its facade and interior walls.
Engravings of Min, Repyt (a lion goddess), and celestial gods were found, along with a southern chamber and an attic accessible by a staircase, now partially destroyed. The Egyptian-German team worked in Athribis for over a decade.
The Egyptian ministry stated, “It is worth noting that the joint Egyptian-German mission has been working in the Atribus region for more than ten years, resulting in the complete disclosure of all parts of the Great Temple of Atribus.”