History OF Bell-Towers in Ancient Coptic Churches

The bell-tower is a well-known architectural element in any church. It makes from the church a landmark for the surrounding area. However, all of the documented architectural plans of the ancient Coptic churches have no place for the bell tower. This is according to the documentations of important authors and researchers in this field, such as; Somers Clark, Alfred Butler and Peter Grossmann and others. Therefore, the main interest of this paper is to determine the date in which Copts began to build up their bell-towers in churches, even if approximately. That by observing the documented plans, historical texts or even arts, to deduce the earliest bell-towers in Coptic churches. Therefore, we can mention the date Copts needed to build them or even were able to. This methodology gives the opportunity, moreover, to determine the regional influences (from the nearby middle east, Mediterranean, African….etc.) that reflected on the Coptic bell-towers from the early beginning, and even the local influences. Furthermore, this research traces the evolution of the Coptic bell-towers and, accordingly, their structural development. Also, their location on the church plan and their relation with other components of the church. This study can be considered as a piece that accumulates a scientific architectural figure about the ancient Coptic churches that survives since the fourth century, and represents a part of the Mediterranean heritage. Consequently, contemporary architects of churches, can revive this heritage and add their evolutions to it according to the contemporary social and religious needs, and developed technology.