CHRISTIANS Y U NOT AT LEAST ORIGINAL?

[onager]

9. Alexandria has a literal monument to religious blending

From 2005-09, I lived in Alexandria.

One of its most famous - and weirdest - monuments is the huge underground burial catacomb at Kom El-Shuqafa. The place is a short walk from another famous landmark, the remains of the Serapeum under Pompey's Pillar. Which was the last location of the Alexandria Library. Wall niches where the Library's scrolls were stored are still there and visible.

Kom El-Shuqafa is nearly psychedelic in its all-over-the-place religious symbolism. Over one doorway there's an elaborate mural of Osiris in the underworld, right above a painting of Persephone being dragged off to Hades.

One doorway is flanked by statues of the ancient Egyptian gods Anubis and Sobek (The Crocodile God). But they're wearing the armor and uniforms of Roman soldiers. Seeing a crocodile-headed god crammed into Roman armor is just...bizarre.

There are life-size statues of an elderly Roman couple, judging by their togas and other dress. But they're posed in ancient Egyptian death symbolism. (And they probably occupied one of the tombs at some time.)

Then there's a big shrine with a mixed pile of human and horse bones - dedicated to one of my personal favorite goddesses, Nemesis. Along with having a really bad attitude, she was also the patron goddess of jockeys and horse trainers. IIRC, according to local legend, the shrine was financed by a local Alexandrian jockey who fell off a horse and was told he would never walk again. When he recovered, he claimed it was a miracle from Nemesis.

Top that, Benny Hinn!

More info:

http://www.touregypt.net/featurestories/komelshuqafa.htm