Faras

Faras is an archaeological site in Nubia on the Nile notable for the remains of a Christian cathedral decorated with painted wall panels. The site became prominent during the mid-20th century salvage excavations related to the Aswan High Dam works.

The principal highlights are the cathedral ruins and the wall paintings recovered during the excavations; these paintings are important examples of Christian Nubian art. Many of the recovered panels were conserved and are displayed in museums outside the flooded site.

Polish-led archaeological teams carried out extensive excavations during the 1960s as part of the international UNESCO campaign to rescue Nubian monuments threatened by rising reservoir waters. The work documented the site’s architecture and removed portable artworks for conservation.

The site lies in the Nile valley of historic Nubia, an area substantially affected by the Aswan High Dam and the resulting creation of Lake Nasser.

• Famous finds: Wall paintings and other finds from the excavations were removed for conservation; many are now in the National Museum in Warsaw and in the Sudan National Museum in Khartoum.
• UNESCO salvage: The site was excavated as part of the UNESCO-led Nubian salvage campaign in the early 1960s before the area was flooded by the creation of Lake Nasser.

What to See #

• Cathedral of Faras: Remains of a Christian cathedral decorated with extensive painted wall panels discovered during mid-20th century excavations.