A scared site for Christians and Muslims, the Monastery of Saint Catherine was built by Emperor Justinian I in 527. The site was associated with Saint Catherine of Alexandria. Tradition says that her relics were transported to the monastery by angels. These relics were purportedly carried around the year 800.
At the Arab conquest of Egypt, Prophet Muhammad gave the monastery a document guaranteeing protection. The Fatimid also built a mosque inside the monastery, so that the Muslim Bedouins would abstain from attacking the monastery; yet, the mosque was never used.
For purposes of protection, the monastery was surrounded by massive walls and fortifications. These walls of 2.5 m wide and 11m high were provided by Emperor Justinian in the 6th century. The walls are made of huge dressed gra...
Read More
)
