Papers by Gertrud J.M. van Loon
Journal of the Canadian Society for Coptic Studies 14, 2022
The Monastery of Anba Hadra, also erroneously known as the Monastery of St. Simeon, is located on... more The Monastery of Anba Hadra, also erroneously known as the Monastery of St. Simeon, is located on the west
bank of the Nile near Aswan, and is one of the best-preserved monastic complexes in Egypt. One of the most
intriguing features of the complex is the “Cave of Anba Hadra”, which is actually a small quarry, located at the
north-western end of the church. It was said to be the dwelling place of Anba Hadra, an anchorite who lived in
a desert cave before being consecrated as bishop of Aswan under Patriarch Theophilus (AD 385–412). While the
quarry is partly demolished, it still contains wall paintings. A row of standing saints is painted on the remaining
rock faces, and the ceiling is adorned with a colorful geometrical pattern that encloses squares and octagons
with busts of Christ and saints. The series of saints includes monks and hermits, bishops or patriarchs, apostles,
and evangelists, as well as an Old Testament figure. These paintings are believed to date back to the end of the
7th or beginning of the 8th century. Although incomplete, the combination of holy figures in the paintings raises
questions about memory, remembrance, tradition, models, and inspiration. Overall, the Monastery of Anba
Hadra and its Cave provide a valuable glimpse into the rich cultural and religious history of Egypt, and ongoing
research will help to shed further light on this fascinating complex.
Eastern Christian Art in its Late Antique and Islamic Contexts 12, 2022
avec des notes sur le corpus des inscriptions par Adam Łajtar et Grzegorz Ochała. In : A. Boud’hors, J.H.F. Dijkstra, et E. Garel (éds.), Études Coptes XVII. Dix-neuvième journée d’études (Ottawa, 19-22 juin 2019), Paris: de Boccard (Cahiers de la bibliothèque copte 24), p. 97-121, 2022
in: G. Gabra and H.N. Takla (eds.), Christianity and Monasticism in Alexandria and the Eastern and Western Deserts, Cairo: AUC Press, p. 297-311, 2020
A. Boud'hors, E. Garel, C. Louis and N. Vanthieghem (eds.), Études Coptes XVI. Dix-huitième journée d’études (Bruxelles, 22-24 juin 2017), Paris : de Boccard (Cahiers de la bibliothèque copte 23), p. 105-126., 2020
T.S. Richter, R. Bodenstein, L.S. Krastel, G.J.M. van Loon, H. Lehmann, in: ARCHÄOLOGIE IN ÄGYPTEN Magazin des Deutschen Archäologischen Instituts Kairo 5, pp. 21-25, 2019
in: A. Boud'hors et C. Louis (éds.), Études Coptes XV. Dix-septième journée d’études (Lisbonne, 18-20 juin 2015), Paris: de Boccard (Cahiers de la bibliothèque copte 22), pp. 137-155, 2018
in: P. Corby Finney (ed.), The Eerdmans Encyclopedia of Early Christian Art and Archaeology, vol. 1, pp. 401-402, 2017
A. Łajtar, A. Obłuski and I. Zych (eds.), Aegyptus et Nubia Christiana. The Włodzimierz Godlewski Jubilee Volume on the Occasion of his 70th Birthday, Warsaw 2016, pp. 257-279.
A. Camplani, P. Buzi and F. Contardi (eds.), Coptic Society, Literature and Religion from Late Antiquity to Modern Times. Proceedings of the Tenth International Congress of Coptic Studies, Rome, Sept 17th-22nd, 2012, and Plenary Reports of the Ninth ICCS, Cairo, Sept 15th-19th, 2008, pp. 597-631
A. Boud’hors et C. Louis (eds.), Études Coptes XIV. Seizième journée d’études (Genève 19-21 juin 2013), Paris 2016 (Cahiers de la bibliothèque copte 21), pp. 13-30.
G. Gabra and H.N. Takla (eds.), Christianity and Monasticism in Middle Egypt. Al-Minya and Asyut, Cairo 2015, pp. 265-279.
C. Fluck, G. Helmecke and E.R. O'Connell (eds.), Egypt: faith after the pharaohs. 29 October 2015 - 7 February 2016, the British Museum, London: the British Museum Press 2015, pp. 174-177.
C. Fluck, G. Helmecke and E.R. O’Connell (eds.), Ein Gott. Abrahams Erben am Nil. Juden, Christen und Muslime in Ägypten von der Antike bis zum Mittelalter. 2 April – 13 September 2015 Bode-Museum Berlin, Petersberg: Michael Imhof Verlag, pp. 176-179, 2015
DE LAET, V.; VAN LOON, G., VAN DER PERRE, A., DELIEVER, I., WILLEMS, H.; 'Integrated Remote Sensing Investigations of Ancient Quarries and Road Systems in the Greater Dayr al-Barsha Region, Middle Egypt: a Study of Logistics', JAS 55 (2015), 286-300.
Journal of Archaeological Science 55 (2015), pp. 286-300 , 2015
In: E.R. O'Connell (ed.), Egypt in the First Millennium AD. Perspectives from New Fieldwork. Leuven 2014 (British Museum Publications on Egypt and Sudan 2), pp. 157-175, 2014
Journal of Coptic Studies 16 (2014), pp. 235-278, 2014
In: G. Gabra (ed.), Coptic Civilization, Cairo 2014, p. 195-216 , 2014
In: Gabra, G. and H.Takla (eds.), Christianity and Monasticism in Aswan and Nubia, Cairo 2013, p. 137-156 , 2013
Uploads
Papers by Gertrud J.M. van Loon
bank of the Nile near Aswan, and is one of the best-preserved monastic complexes in Egypt. One of the most
intriguing features of the complex is the “Cave of Anba Hadra”, which is actually a small quarry, located at the
north-western end of the church. It was said to be the dwelling place of Anba Hadra, an anchorite who lived in
a desert cave before being consecrated as bishop of Aswan under Patriarch Theophilus (AD 385–412). While the
quarry is partly demolished, it still contains wall paintings. A row of standing saints is painted on the remaining
rock faces, and the ceiling is adorned with a colorful geometrical pattern that encloses squares and octagons
with busts of Christ and saints. The series of saints includes monks and hermits, bishops or patriarchs, apostles,
and evangelists, as well as an Old Testament figure. These paintings are believed to date back to the end of the
7th or beginning of the 8th century. Although incomplete, the combination of holy figures in the paintings raises
questions about memory, remembrance, tradition, models, and inspiration. Overall, the Monastery of Anba
Hadra and its Cave provide a valuable glimpse into the rich cultural and religious history of Egypt, and ongoing
research will help to shed further light on this fascinating complex.
bank of the Nile near Aswan, and is one of the best-preserved monastic complexes in Egypt. One of the most
intriguing features of the complex is the “Cave of Anba Hadra”, which is actually a small quarry, located at the
north-western end of the church. It was said to be the dwelling place of Anba Hadra, an anchorite who lived in
a desert cave before being consecrated as bishop of Aswan under Patriarch Theophilus (AD 385–412). While the
quarry is partly demolished, it still contains wall paintings. A row of standing saints is painted on the remaining
rock faces, and the ceiling is adorned with a colorful geometrical pattern that encloses squares and octagons
with busts of Christ and saints. The series of saints includes monks and hermits, bishops or patriarchs, apostles,
and evangelists, as well as an Old Testament figure. These paintings are believed to date back to the end of the
7th or beginning of the 8th century. Although incomplete, the combination of holy figures in the paintings raises
questions about memory, remembrance, tradition, models, and inspiration. Overall, the Monastery of Anba
Hadra and its Cave provide a valuable glimpse into the rich cultural and religious history of Egypt, and ongoing
research will help to shed further light on this fascinating complex.