Vol.I - The Coptic Orthodox Church

48 Ancient Coptic Churches. [CH. H.
ings of which the upper stories project and rest on
pillars and have open balconies. On the fourth side
is the church, so sunken now that one enters by a
short flight of downward steps from the door which
is at the western end of the south aisle. The west
front is as usual a plain high blank wall whose limits
. 7. B.
Fig. 1. Plan of Mari Mina and the adjoining church of Mari Banai.
are lost in the buildings which align with it on
either side. There seems no trace of any central
western entrance : for the present doorway leads
into the south aisle ; and
responding doorway
although there is a cor-
into what was once the north
aisle, the third entrance into the nave is wanting.
The church is small only about 60 ft. long and
50 ft. wide, the latter measure being taken across the
choir. The peculiarities of its structure are that it
has no narthex nor any sign of one having existed ;
that the northern aisle as far as the choir has been