Representaciones de crux ansata en la basílica de San Filóxeno de Oxirrinco (Minia - Egipto)

Abstract

With the Edict of Milan and the full adoption of Christianity in Egypt, the city of Oxyrhynchus became a major religious center and was one of the most important cities during the Coptic period. From 2009 to 2021 excavations have been carried out in Sector 24 of the Upper Necropolis of Oxyrhynchus, where major finds from this Christian phase are coming to light and a basilica dedicated to St. Philoxenus has been documented. In the excavation of this building a series of crosses painted on the columns of the building have been found, from which we will analyze the iconography of this type of crosses in Egypt and how Christianity adopted them from the fourth century for their shape and symbolism. In addition, we will study the value and function of the letters alpha and omega that accompany in many cases not only the ansadas crosses, but also the staurograms, chrismons and christograms in general.