İznik’s basilica among top 10 discoveries

An early Byzantine era basilica, which was discovered this year underwater in Ä°znik and has the traces of early Christianity architecture, is among the top 10 discoveries of 2014, according to the Archaeological Institute of America The remains of a nearly 1,600-year-old basilica, which was discovered in February this year under Lake Ä°znik during a photo shoot from the air, was shown among the top 10 discoveries of the year by the Archaeological Institute of America. The early Byzantine era basilica, which has the traces of architecture from the early period of Christianity, was found about 20 meters from the shore. The remains are currently lying in water, which is about one-and-a-half to two meters deep.

Speaking after the discovery, Uludağ University Head of Archaeology Department Professor Mustafa Şahin said the basilica had been discovered while photographing the city from the air to make an inventory of the historical and cultural artifacts, they had held repeated meetings with experts on the Eastern Rome, and examined lots of resources.

Şahin said they had encountered the name “St. Neophytos,” adding, “Neophytos is among the saints and devout Christians who were martyred during the time of Roman emperors Diocletian and Galerius, when bans and punishments against Christians were common. According to resources, he was a saint who was killed by Roman soldiers in 303, 10 years before the Edict of Milan that freed Christianity.”

“Only 100 miles from Istanbul, the ancient city of Nicaea, on the shores of Turkey’s Lake İznik, is not remote or unknown. So archaeologist Mustafa Şahin was in for a shock when a routine aerial survey of the lake revealed traces of a 5th century basilica. “I did not...