The Basilica of the Red Monastery in Sohag Province is an architectural marvel that exemplifies ancient temples before their original bright colors were scrubbed away by time. Constructed in the fourth century, this ancient temple showcases the evolution of religious sites from the Egyptian to the medieval eras. Named for the color of its outer walls, the Red Monastery marks a turning point in Mediterranean art and culture. At the time, Egypt was part of the Eastern Roman Empire ruled by Justinian the Great—it was simultaneously ancient and medieval, both Roman…
