10th Century Byzantine Chapel Uncovered in North-East Turkey
August 11, 2015
A Byzantine-era chapel dating back to the 10th century has been unearthed by the Nilüfer Hatun Almshouse and Extension Construction and Environmental Project in the northwestern province of Bursa’s İznik district.
The Council of Monuments, members of which have recently examined the area, will give the final decision about the construction of a new administration building and an archaeology museum called the İznik Green Museum.
The rooftop of the İznik Green Museum has been proposed as a green area for the use of clean energy.
In the beginning of last year, underwater archaeological work revealed the remains of a 1,600-year-old basilica under Lake İznik. The discovery of the basilica was declared one of top 10 discoveries of 2014 by the Archaeological Institute of America.
Source: Hurriyet Daily News [August 03, 2015]
NFTU: Turkey (Asia Minor) is littered with monuments to Orthodox Christianity (as well as to various non-Orthodox forms). Asia Minor was anciently a Christian land after the conversion of the Roman Empire; with the advent of Islam it became a battle ground for numerous Islamic invasions. Finally, from the 11th century onward, after the disastrous defeat of the Eastern Roman (Byzantine) army at the Battle of Manzikert, Asia Minor fell under the control of the Seljuk Turks.
