National Geographic News, Reporting Your World Daily

Saturday, November 21, 2009

Photo: Ancient Christian "Holy Wine" Factory Found in Egypt


Email to a Friend	<< Back to Full Story

A masonry structure (top) on Egypt's Sinai Peninsula was likely the area's oldest Christian winery, say archaeologists who recently found two wine presses there. Each was engraved with crosses.

Gold coins found nearby picturing the fourth century Roman Emperor Valens (lower) are indications that the wine was exported to Christians abroad, experts say.

Photography courtesy Tarek El-Naggar, director of south Sinai at Egypt's Supreme Council of Antiquities.