Archaeologists Found a 5th-Century Church Inscribed With a Message to Early Christians

Here’s what you’ll learn when you read this story:

Excavation work in Turkey’s ancient Olympus revealed intricate mosaic patterns and inscriptions at a church entrance.
Known as Church No. 1, the mosaics contained within are dated to the fifth century.
Details from the inscriptions show who supported the church’s construction.

A mosaic adorning the entrance to a fifth-century church in Turkey’s ancient city of Olympus is both just the tip of the iceberg. The mosaic itself extends from the entrance to inside the church, and it’s just one of many ruins from the time period that archeologists have recently discovered, even after years of excavating the city.

As crews continued to excavate Olympus’ ancient Kumluca district, they discovered the mosaic outside the early Christian church, known as Church No. 1. The entrance bears an inscription which translates to: “Only those on the right path may enter here,” according to Turkey’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism, as reported by Türkiye Today.

“This mosaic inscription is strategically placed at the very entrance of the church,” Gokcen Kutulus Oztaskin, associate professor at Pamukkale University and excavation director on the project, said according to Anadolu Agency.

The mosaics throughout the church contain both geometric patterns and botanical motifs, stretching from the main entrance into multiple areas of the building. Additional inscriptions reveal the names of churchgoers who financially backed the construction of the church. “These finds confirm Olympus as one of the richest ancient cities in the Lycia region in terms of mosaic flooring,” said Oztaskin, according to Türkiye Today. “Olympus continues to surprise us with its rich mosaic heritage.”

Beyond Church No. 1, the team discovered a residential structure atop a Roman-era burial ground. Experts believe that the site was repurposed during the Byzantine period to help house the region’s growing populations, highlighting a change in urban planning. The residential building—complete with a stone floor and also originally constructed in the fifth century—appeared to have been reconstructed (in accordance with the original design) in the sixth century following a fire. It came complete with additional artifacts, including a large clay storage vessel known as a pithos, which are now housed in the Antalya Archaeology Museum.

While crews have been on site since 2006 sifting through the city’s Hellenistic, Roman, and Byzantine remains, plans still call for continued exploration of the city (including what could be a temple in the city center). Already, teams have discovered examples of the masonry technique known as bossage, which features protruding blocks in finely cut stone walls, which they took to mean that the structure was likely a key religious building.

Soon, the team will excavate a bishop’s palace and Church No. 3. Already known as one of the most mosaic-rich ancient regions in Turkish history, crews hope to find even more patterns and inscriptions that help tell the story of ancient Olympus.

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