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The Ostraca House in Abu Mena is a medium-sized multi-story building, which was badly destroyed by fire after the Arab conquest of Egypt (at around 639/42). Despite being used by neighboring inhabitants as landfill, it led archeologists to the discovery of nearly 2000 Greek ostraca. In this volume Peter Grossmann examines the origins of these ostraca. The house was an official building owned privately and not by the state, which had, among other things, something to do with the organization of the grape harvest and the payment of grape pickers in the surrounding vineyards. In addition, there was a larger abutting complex of buildings in the immediate vicinity of the building, with five closely-packed presses built at different times, which would suggest that it makes sense to link the excavated ostraca to the existence of these presses. These are the only presses that were allowed to remain under Roman control within the holy precinct (temenos), which suggests that they were, in part at least, private ecclesiastical possessions. This is also confirmed by the fact that the ostraca are written exclusively in Greek.

Excavations (Achaeology) --- Wine and wine making --- History. --- Ostraka --- Wine presses --- Excavations (Archaeology) --- Egypt --- Abū Mīnā (Extinct city) --- Antiquities --- Ostraka - Egypt --- Wine presses - Egypt --- Excavations (Archaeology) - Egypt - Abu Mina (Extinct city) --- Egypt - Antiquities