Archaeologists have made a groundbreaking discovery in northwestern Turkey, unearthing what is considered the best preserved image of Jesus Christ. The mural, found in an underground tomb near Iznik (historically known as Nicaea), portrays a youthful Jesus as the "Good Shepherd" with distinctly Roman characteristics.
Discovery Near Iznik
The artwork was discovered in a subterranean tomb not far from Iznik, a town famed for being the birthplace of the Nicene Creed, which shaped early Christianity. The Nicene Creed was formulated in A.D. 325 when the area was part of the Roman Empire. During that period, Christians faced significant persecution, making this cave artwork a valuable insight into their existence and customs.
Description of the Mural
The painting shows a clean-shaven Jesus dressed in a toga, carrying a goat on his shoulders with its head turned to the left. At his feet, four additional goats wander among abstract flowers and vegetation. Researchers note that this is one of the rarest examples in Anatolia (modern-day Turkey) where Jesus is depicted with Roman traits.
Before the cross became the universal symbol of Christianity, the Good Shepherd imagery was used to convey concepts of faith, representing salvation, divine guidance, and protection.
Excavation Details
The cave painting was initially uncovered in August 2025. Lead archaeologist Gulsen Kutbay described it as likely the "only example of its kind in Anatolia." The tomb also contains other artworks, including illustrations of birds, flora, and portraits of aristocratic men and women accompanied by slaves.
Eren Erten Ertem, an archaeologist from Iznik Museum, stated that the murals show "a transition from late paganism to early Christianity, depicting the deceased being sent off to the afterlife in a positive and fitting manner."
Human Remains Found
Excavation also revealed the skeletal remains of five individuals, according to anthropologist Ruken Zeynep Kose. Due to deterioration, the ages of two could not be determined, while the others included two young adults and a six-month-old baby.
Significance of the Discovery
Professor Candida Moss of the University of Birmingham, an authority on early Christianity, emphasized the importance of recent discoveries in Turkey. "The large number of recent early Christian archaeological discoveries in Turkey are of very substantial significance," she said. "Anatolia was in many ways the cradle of early Christianity, visited by apostles Peter and Paul and other early missionaries. When Christianity became the official religion of the empire, the Romans moved their capital from Rome to what is now Istanbul."
