Nubia, the region that includes modern-day Egypt and Sudan, has yielded a rather surprising discovery: a Christogram tattoo was discovered on the body of a person dating back 1,300 years. The discovery was made during excavations in a cemetery located near the medieval monastic site of Ghazali, one of the best preserved archaeological sites in all of Sudan. This northern site is just 15 km from the banks of the Nile and the owner of the tattoo was likely a monk from the community.
Alpha and Omega: the beginning and the end
This is only the second known case of a tattoo discovered in the Middle Ages Sudan, which was once part of the Nubian kingdom. The tattoo in question features a symbol known as a “christogram”, formed by the combination of the Greek letters “chi” and “rho”, serving as a monogram and abbreviation for the name of Christ. It made its debut around 324 AD when Constantine became emperor of the Roman Empire.
It incorporates the letters alpha and omega, symbolizing the Christian belief that God is alpha – the beginning, and omega – the end of all things, according to a Press release by the Polish Center for Mediterranean Archaeology, University of Warsaw (PCMA UW).
Photos and digital image of the Christogram tattoo, Chi-Rho and Greek alpha-omega tattoo discovered in Ghazali. (Kari A. Guilbault/ PCMA UW )
Researchers have revealed images of the tattoo, captured with a full-spectrum camera, then digitally enhanced to reveal the distinct outlines of these early Christian symbols.
“It was quite surprising to suddenly see what appeared to be a tattoo,” Kari A. Guilbault, a bioarchaeologist at Purdue University, said in the release. “At first I wasn’t sure, but when the images were processed and the tattoo was clearly visible, all the initial uncertainties were removed.”
Guilbault, who holds a doctorate. candidate at Purdue University, came across this discovery by chance while photographing the remains. Despite her expertise in medieval tattooing practices, she was not originally examining the remains for potential tattoos, and she described the discovery as “totally serendipitous” during an interview with Online mail.
The orientation of the tattoo indicates that it was likely intended to be viewed privately by the individual, implying a personal rather than public significance. Its placement on the foot could have had symbolic meaning, possibly referring to the crucifixion of Christ or symbolizing a spiritual journey.
Christian symbolism and development of the Ghazali monastery
Radiocarbon dating identified the period in which the individual lived, suggesting that he was active between 667 and 774. At this time, Christianity was the dominant religion in the region, making it quite common. The person in question was probably between 35 and 50 years old at the time of their death.
Although the body was discovered during excavations in 2016, the existence of the tattoo was only recently revealed through additional post-excavation analysis and full-spectrum photography, carried out by researchers Stark and Guilbault. This discovery highlights the presence of early Christian symbolism in the region during this historical period, reports Live Science .
A mid-19th century painting showing the remains of the Ghazali Monastery, by Karl Richard Lepsius. ( Public domain )
Ghazali Monastery, also known as the Monastery of Saint Macarius, is an ancient Coptic-Christian monastery located in the Western Desert of Egypt, specifically in the Wadi El Natrun region. It is one of the oldest monastic communities in Egypt, known for its adherence to the Coptic Orthodox religion. Christian tradition .
The monastery is believed to have been founded in the late 7th century by King Merkurios, who was a ruler of the region. Nubian Kingdom from Makuria. John the Deacon, an Egyptian Christian writer dating from around 768, referred to Merkurios as the “New Constantine”, indicating his important role in the Nubian Church within the Kingdom of Makuria, reports The Heritage Daily .
Project to present the Ghazali archaeological site located in the Bayuda desert, Sudan. ( PCMA)
The first excavations at Ghazali took place in the 1950s, and subsequent excavations were conducted by PCMA UW from 2012 to 2018. These excavations uncovered several important discoveries, including the main monastic structure, which featured a church with a basilical plan . Additionally, cemeteries, a settlement and evidence suggesting that Ghazali was an iron smelting center have been discovered.
Top image: Images of the Christogram tattoo on the dorsal (top) side of the right foot. The photo was taken with a full spectrum camera and digitally enhanced using ImageJ software with a DStretch plugin. Source: Kari A. Guilbault/ PCMA UW
By Sahir Pandey
