Archaeologists look forward to further finds during digs that will uncover more concerning the history of Nicaea. Share Article Share Article Facebook X LinkedIn Reddit Bluesky Email Copy Link Link copied Bookmark Comments
An antique mural of Jesus has been discovered by archaeologists in Turkey, mirroring one of the Bible’s most celebrated verses. The artwork, considered to originate from the third century, appears to show Jesus as the “Good Shepherd,” holding a goat on his shoulders amidst a field of goats, dressed in a simple robe.
Turkish officials have called the discovery the sole early Christian-era instance of its type beyond Italy. It surfaced in an underground chamber tomb within the Hisardere Necropolis, a large graveyard dating from between the second and fifth centuries AD in contemporary Turkey, situated in the Iznik region.
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The depiction of Jesus in his early years aligns with the passage from John 10:11, where Jesus states: “I am the good shepherd.”
Before the cross became the main emblem of Christianity, the figure of the Good Shepherd served to represent protection, redemption, and direction, enabling early Christians to subtly express their beliefs when religious symbols were uncommon.
This mural is believed to reveal that adherents of the early Christian faith utilized similar visual representations and vocabulary for Jesus as those documented in the New Testament.
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As stated by specialists who spoke with Middle East Eye, the painted depiction of Jesus on the tomb’s northern wall indicates a transition from paganism to Christian devotion, GB News reports.
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The tomb exhibits a fusion of pagan customs alongside Christian aspects, including a symposium scene portraying the afterlife as an unending feast.
On the western wall, a pair, potentially those interred there, are represented as affluent aristocrats adorned in exquisite attire and jewelry.
The three remaining walls and ceilings are likewise embellished with paintings, and the fresco is situated behind a burial platform constructed of terracotta tiles.
This extensive graveyard of Hisardere Necropolis in northern Turkey stands as one of the most substantial ancient burial locations in the vicinity, yielding notable discoveries such as tombs, stone sarcophagi, and subterranean burial spaces.
During the initial century after Jesus’s crucifixion, Christianity established itself in the region of Anatolia, which encompasses the majority of present-day Turkey.
İznik holds considerable importance for the Christian religion, serving as the location of the First Council of Nicaea in 325 AD, which formulated essential Christian principles.
In the ancient city of Antioch, now Antakya in southern Turkey, the earliest recorded usage of the term ‘Christian’ was observed.
Scholars anticipate revealing more frescoes, writings, and artefacts through ongoing excavations to discover more concerning the legacy of Nicaea.