Behind Bagawat

Passing through the gate at Bagawat  the road skirts the western(left) side of the cemetery past the small house once used by Ahmed Fakhry when he was working in the oasis (perched on the edge of the Bagawat hill). It continues northwest to the Sixth Dynasty Tombs, the Monastery of Mustafa kashif, Ain Zaaf, Tahunet al-Haa, and a few other ruins.
 Sixth Dynasty Tombs
Although named after a dynasty of the Old Kingdom, the mostly unexcavated Sixth Dynasty Tombs have not really been identified as belonging to the ancient Egyptians and to date little evidence has been found to suggest that the ancient Egyptians maintained any significant presence in Kharga Oasis. The rock tombs are cut into the side of the foothills behind Bagawat and run for nearly a kilometer.
Monastery of Mustafa Kashif
Just beyond the tombs and a kilometer north of Bagawat, commanding a magnificent view of the valley, is the Monastery of Mustafa Kashif, Mustapha the tax collector. Named after a governor of the oasis during Mamluk times, the site, now in ruins, was occupied during the Middle Kingdom, the Roman Period, and the Christian era, when the current structure was built. A Mamluk army general dug the nearby well, which is no silted up.
With two entrances on the northern and southern walls, the building, part monastery, part hostel for travelers, was erected over an ancient tomb and once had five levels. Home to Christian hermits, it contains a church, where inscriptions dating to the fifth and sixth centuries are found on the ceiling. The western side is the oldest.
Despite its ruinous state, the monastery is still a magnificent structure. Shards cover the ground around the ruin. On the depression floor below the monastery are several additional ruins.
Ain Zaaf, Spring of Palm Fronds, is tucked into the base of the foothhills of Gebel al_Teir, a kilometer north of the Monastery of Mustafa Kashif. It contains three structures:
A Christian burial chapel that could have jumped out of the cemetery of Bagawat, a barrel vaulted tomb, and a recently excavated Christian church that archaeologists believe could be the church of the banished Bishop Athanasius. Today, roofless and standing less than a meter high, the church is a labyrinth of tiny rooms. Along the northwest corner is Coptic graffiti. For the naturalist and rock hound the cliffs around Ain Zaaf  hold various clays and colored stones.

Home, About Us, Branches & Sightseeing, Classical Tours, Diving, Safari, Meditation, Incentives,
Natural Health Club, Nile Cruises, Hotels In Egypt, Sun East Special's, Country Guide,
Payment Policy, Reservation, Tailor Made, Contact Us
    

All Rights reserved© SunEast Tours 2007-2008