Region · wadi-el-natrun · 4th century CE onward
Featured place
Desert valley between Cairo and Alexandria where thousands of monks settled from the fourth century. Four ancient monasteries remain active there today, among them Deir Anba Bishoy.
Also known as: Scetis · Skete · Shee-Het
4th century: hermits — among them Macarius the Egyptian, after whom Scetis' memory is carried — settle the valley's caves and cells.
Byzantine and medieval centuries: the scattered settlements consolidate into walled monasteries able to survive desert raids.
Today: four of the ancient houses remain inhabited, keeping Wadi al-Natrun a living centre of Coptic monasticism.
