Mary and Jesus fresco in İznik restored

A fresco of Mary holding Jesus in her arms, which was unearthed during excavations at the approximately 2,000-year-old Roman theater in the northwestern province of Bursa's İznik district and believed to be one of the oldest surviving examples, has been brought to light through restoration works.

Archaeologists are studying the religious use phase of the Roman theater in İznik, where the First Council was convened in 325 A.D. upon the invitation of Emperor Constantine I, bringing together all bishops affiliated with the church to discuss and resolve critical religious matters.

Excavations and restoration, which began in the 1980s and have continued uninterrupted with the Dokuz Eylül University team since 2016, led to the reopening of the theater to visitors in March after the majority of work on the main structures was completed.

Work continues in areas outside the main structures of the theater. The "Mary and Baby Jesus" fresco, located east of the central entrance and discovered in 2005, has been restored after being covered for protection and allow for necessary studies.

The fresco, set against a white decorative background with precious colored stones, depicts Mary seated on a high throne holding Jesus. It measures 1.42 meters in height and 78 centimeters in width. Adjacent to it is another fresco measuring 1.5 meters in height and 3.15 meters in width, where Jesus is seated on the left, with his head tilted slightly to the right toward Mary.

Professor Aygün Ekin Meriç, head of the excavation and faculty member at Dokuz Eylül University's Archaeology Department, stated to the state-run Anadolu Agency that the theater began construction in 111 A.D. during Emperor Trajan's reign.

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