Kellia: Its Decoration in Painting and Stucco

This chapter discusses the artistic elements excavated at Kellia. Numerous buildings, decorations of some sort have been unearthed, ranging from simple graffito-like drawings in red ocher to elaborate painted stucco imitations of columns. Most of these decorations were found in the oratories, the private or communal rooms for prayer. Many of the paintings are of a decorative character and do not show any religious characteristics. Red ocher was often used for painting floors and a dado decoration that reached to approximately one meter high on the walls of certain rooms. Geometrical, floral, and animal motifs were used, while crosses are the most frequent elements with an obvious Christian meaning.