Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 29.djvu/156

ICO THE ANCIENT CHRISTIAN CIIURCnES OF MUSR EL to the south. Hero, in a slirinc or reliqiiar}- is preserved the arm of S. Macarius. and above liangs a picture of Abou Sepliln. The pulpit, under Avhicli is buried a Coptic Pa- triarcli, is of most exquisite Avorkmauship, aud is adorned with su}icrb mosaics executed in luarble intermixed with motlicr of j^earl, aud with Coj^tic inscriptions cut in v:]ntG marble. Over the second screen is the text, " M}-" soul liath a desire to enter into the Com-ts of the Lord." The tliird screen is supei-bly inlaid with ivory. The Iconostasis is also mao^nificont with inlaid wood and ivorv, carved with the utmost taste, and some of the pictures above upon a gold ground are of unusual size, and apparently very ancient. Part of the pavement is enriched with patterns incised in the marble. The baldachino over the central altar is fine, and behind the altar is a superl) circle of steps leading up to the patri- archal chair of white marble. The walls of the central apse are cnrichc<l with excellent 0/>fis Alcj'andrinum, above which are disposed some very fine Ai'abian tiles. In this apse is a perfect wooden reading-desk of peculiar shape, and a beautiful ewer and stand of Arab work, adorned with blue and irrcen enamel. In the cha)iel of S. Michael the Bcat-niche is lined with small old Arabian tiles. 111. Miisr cI Atcckali, Old Cairo, called also Dayr csh Slnina, the name ^fusr el Ateckah not being couflnrd to this walled village, but vmhraciiuj also the neighboui-hood. The Jewish Synagogue, as has been observed, was anciently the Christian chui-ch of S. ^Michael, and is .said to liavc been made over to the Jews by the Copts, in lieu of an unpaid debt, by decree of one of the Arabian Caliphs during tin.' Middle Ages. In fi)rm it resembles a Pasilica, aud it is entered by a kind of j)oich, with a descent into it of two or three step.s. The nave is sep.nate*! from the side ai.sles by twelve ancient marble pillars, above? which is a galleiT, the clerestory being sup[)orte(l by eight more marble columns. The ai.slc runs round the west cn«l, .-uid the western gallcr}', under which is the entrance, is sujjpoited by a single pillar. In the ajise. and abov<' and aroimd the niche, in which arc placed the Holy Hooks of the I/iw, are arabesques and leaf- work, with inseriptions elegantly execule(| u))on wood and plast(;r in IIel»rev characlers ; ami in the side aisles is somo lino screen work, which, lioin its gener.il cli.'iiactei", and espcci.'illv IV'iin til inl roiliid JMii oj' bii-d.s anil ga/cllcs or