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Frescoes of the faithful - İznik excavation uncovers rare Christian-period murals

Frescoes of the faithful - İznik excavation uncovers rare Christian-period murals

"Experts in Turkey have unveiled a stone tomb etched with early Christian-period drawings and symbols, discovered amid continuing archaeological digs in the historic city of Iznik in northwestern Bursa.   The footage, released on Thursday, shows experts examining a stone chamber adorned with drawings, symbols, and inscriptions on its walls, along with several artefacts uncovered inside the tomb.   In a statement, the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism said the tomb was built of brick and stone, featuring a raised seating platform and decorated with plant motifs and bird imagery. It contains three burials - two adults and a child.   'During the 2025 excavations, this tomb was identified as one of the most significant discoveries at the site due to its murals and icons. The depiction of the Good Shepherd in this tomb is considered one of the best examples preserved to date in Anatolia,' the ministry statement read.   Turkish media reports that archaeological teams from the Iznik Museum and the Ministry of Culture have found evidence indicating the cemetery was in use from the 2nd to 5th centuries AD. They added that the tomb’s interior composition reflects characteristic elements of early Christian art.   The discovery coincides with Pope Leo XIV's visit to Turkey, during which he is scheduled to travel to Iznik to celebrate the 1700th anniversary of the First Council of Nicaea with a mass. The date of the footage could not be independently verified at the time of publication."