5th-Century Christian Church With Mosaic Found in Turkey

An archaeologist cleans the mosaic inscription at the entrance of a 5th-century Christian church. Photo: FOX News

ANTALYA — At the end of July, archaeologists in Turkey uncovered a hidden 5th-century Christian church with a mosaic inscription during excavations in an ancient city that had remained unseen since the 12th century, FOX News reports.

The excavation took place in Olympos, an ancient port city in the region of Lycia, located in Antalya Province. Archaeological studies at the site have been ongoing since 2006, but recent seasons have yielded particularly significant discoveries. Among them are mosaic floors, large clay storage jars (pithoi), and – most notably – a church bearing an unusual inscription.

According to Associate Professor Gokcen Oztaskin of Pamukkale University, the most important find this year is the mosaic inscription at the church entrance: “Only those on the righteous path may enter here.”

Oztaskin explained that this inscription had not been seen since the 12th century, when the city of Olympos was abandoned. The message is framed by vegetal motifs typical of the artistic style of the period, along with names of benefactors – likely donors who funded the church’s construction or decoration.

Scholars believe the church was in use for several centuries and that the city itself was a major religious, cultural, and trade center. In addition to the church, other significant structures have been found in Olympos, including religious buildings, a monumental gate complex, a presumed episcopal palace, the Antimachus sarcophagus, and the Marcus Aurelius Archepolis Monumental Tomb.

This discovery adds to a growing series of archaeological finds connected to early Christianity. Earlier this spring, archaeologists reported discovering a Christian settlement in predominantly Muslim Jordan – Tarays. Last year, the oldest known Christian silver inscription north of the Alps was found in Central Europe.

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