CCS Research Seminar 2

Amheida, the site of ancient Trimithis in Egypt’s Dakhla Oasis, is renowned for its well-preserved Late Roman remains, offering a rare glimpse into urban life far from the imperial centers of the Roman world. Over more than two decades of archaeological work, the site has emerged as one of the most informative case studies for understanding daily life, architecture, and cultural interaction in a remote desert city during Late Antiquity. This lecture focuses on the most significant discoveries from the ongoing excavations at Trimithis. It will present new results from the most recent field season, highlighting the excavation of a large third- to fourth-century elite house distinguished by monumental architecture and richly decorated wall paintings. The lecture will also discuss the investigation of a previously unknown urban sector, brought to light in recent years by the shifting of sand dunes, which is transforming our understanding of the city’s layout and development. Together, these findings shed new light on the prosperity, social dynamics, and cultural horizons of this oasis community and underscore its close connections to the wider Mediterranean world in Late Antiquity.

Speaker:
Nicola Aravecchia is Associate Professor of Classics and of Art History and Archaeology at Washington University in St. Louis. His research interests encompass the art and archaeology of Graeco-Roman and late antique Egypt. In particular, they focus on the origins and development of early Christian architecture in Egypt. Since 2005, Nicola has been involved in archaeological projects in Dakhla Oasis, located in Egypt’s Western Desert. Nicola’s latest book, entitled Early Christianity at Amheida (Egypt's Dakhla Oasis): A Fourth-Century Church, appeared in the Fall of 2024. Nicola has also authored (or co-authored) two other books as well as articles and essays on related subjects, most recently on the capacity and use of space in early Egyptian churches.