Las excavations in Türkiye They keep giving surprises. This time, with an incredible christian mosaic 1,500 years old. This discovery adds to the revelations about that same time that were recorded in 2021.
The main difference with the aforementioned antecedent is that this time the project was carried out official investigatorsand not clandestine diggers.
Scientists of the Batman Universitylocated in the Turkish city of the same name, found a mosaic with a Greek inscription framed in a “Byzantine epigraphic style”. This was discovered in the Urfa CastleTürkiye, in the final phase of its archaeological work during 2025.
The work was done for “protect Count Anaskas and his family.» It also mentions a man named Rabulus and the range of DIAKOS (assistants to priests and main readers in churches), reported Anadolu Agency.
Due to the mention of such characters, it was estimated that the approximate date of their creation is between 460 and 495 AD. c. In conjunction with its historical value, the work made of small red, white and black stonesrevealed an “intricate design” early Christian.
In addition, mosaics in the shape of medallion what they offer “clues” about religious practices of the time, the discoverers assured.
The 1,500-year-old mosaic reveals a possible Christian “spiritual center”
The team of excavators led by the professor Gulriz Kozbeof Batman University, was the one who recently unearthed the Christian mosaic. This one has geometric elements and representative scenes of «the Creation» and the divine order, through its decoration with animals and plants.
Archaeologist Gülriz Kozbe was the leader of the team that discovered the ancient mosaic in Urfa, Türkiye. Photo: ArchiveOn the other hand, the well-known four elements can be seen in it: air, water, earth and fire. They would be a symbol of the order of the world and its harmony described in the Scriptures.
At the same time, they are mentioned in the ancient work the leaders of that church. “Initial examinations indicate that the mosaic probably served as floor of a churcha chapel or what we call a martyrdom, a shrine to a martyr”Kozbe anticipated to the state agency Anadolu.
Of such registrations It follows that the first Christians of the Urfa city they “actively preserved” the traditions of biblical history. The thing is that, as we saw, in this place of worship the Old Testament symbols.
On the other hand, the excavators found three burials of religious personnel, which would highlight this city as possible spiritual center.
The medallions with “cosmic elements” and religious clues
This excavation, carried out within the framework of the «Heritage for the Future Project» – which has the support of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism Turkish -, came to another exciting discovery: medallion-shaped mosaics that represent “cosmic elements”he assured Daily Mail.
“It provides important clues about religious practicesbut we will need to carry out more bibliographic research and evaluate parallels to reach definitive conclusions”Kozbe said about the medallions. These will likely “pop up” in the four corners of the floor, he said.
The other 1,500-year-old mosaic in a monastery found in 2021
Two people who made clandestine archaeological excavations in a mountainous area of the province of Izmir, in Türkiye, were detained in April 2021. However, they had found the remains of a monastery and a Roman mosaic dating from the same time as the recent discovery in the city of Urfa.
Mosaic found in 2021 by clandestine excavators in Izmir, Türkiye. Photo: Anadolu AgencyLos historical remains they were about two meters deepthe state agency reported at that time Anadolu (AA).
After a detailed study carried out by personnel of the Izmir Archeology Museumit was determined that they were the ruins of a monastery and a roman basilica from between the 4th and 14th centuries, as well as a rare mosaic more than 1,500 years old.
