| Facade of the South Church of the Monastery of
Apollo - After the excavations of the monastery of Bawit, the Musée du Louvre received a share of numerous
architectural sculptures, in limestone and in wood, with which
one of the two churches of the monastery has been reconstructed. The supporting
structure of the authentic sculptures is realized in concrete so that there should be
no ambiguity in the presentation. The monument was surrounded by
friezes, alternatively of stone and of wood. The architectonic
elements are underlined by the sculptures which were originally painted. Some pieces still keep
traces of colors. The two doors placed in the north wall are highly decorated. The one
which opens onto the nave is surmounted by an admirably carved lintel. The
engraved texts associate the archangels Michael and Gabriel with the founding
father, Abbot Apollo, and his companion, Abbot Phib. Above, an arcade with
finely sculpted acanthus stems encloses the image of a saint on horseback killing a
serpent, placed in a chapel, in the middle of a vegetal decoration. |
