Holy Egyptian Wine Exports to Christians Abroad
posted in Archaeology |
Early winery came into focus by the discovery of two wine presses in Egypt. The holy wine produced was being exported to Christians abroad, according to archaeologists.
The two wine presses had carved large crosses across them and are located close to St. Catherine’s Monastery, a complex belonging to the 6th century A.D. near Mount Sinai, which is on Sinai Peninsula.
More wine presses may be discovered, as the region happens to be a hub of wine industry. The discoveries not only include the presses, but also clay vessels known as amphorae as well as grape seeds. Red residue was found on some of the walls.
The presses have not been dated, but the tools belong to the 4th and 6th century A.D. Several coins made in gold having the picture of Roman Emperor Valens, who ruled between from 364 A.D. to 378, were found close to the presses. The wine presses could belong to the same period according to the archaeologists.
The coins, according to El-Naggar, director for Southern Sinai at the Supreme Council of Antiquities in Egypt, were minted in Antioch in present southeastern Turkey.
The wine was stored in the amphorae, which are standard vessels for shipping wine, grain, olive oil, fish and other items. The wine appears to be from a holy site and was used in religious ceremonies. Some believe that Prophet Moses received the Ten Commandments from God at the site.
The presses consist of basins ( 4-ft-square), where monks crushed grapes with their feet. The wine flowed through a hole, located at the end of the wine press, into a lower basin.
The structures are quite similar to those used by ancient Egyptians, although there is no evidence which shows that wine was produced in the Sinai Peninsula as early as 3,000 B.C. Early Christians were able to grow grapevines as well as palm trees at the site of the wine presses. The area was more cooler than the neighboring desert.