Dendera - Coptic Church

Immediately south of the birthhouse we come to a large Coptic church of the late fifth C., an excellent example of the layout of an early Egyptian church. The entrance, at the northwest corner, leads into a vestibule (with a round headed recess) and beyond this into the narthex, which occupies the whole breadth of the church and has semicircular recesses at the north and south ends. To the west are a number of small chambers and a staircase. From the narthex three doorways lead into the nave, in the walls of which are rectangular recesses. At the far end is the trilobate sanctuary, with small rooms on either side.