Iznik, Turkey, December 12, 2025
Photo: turkiyetoday.com
Archaeologists working at the Hisardere Necropolis in Iznik, Turkey, have uncovered a chamber tomb containing a fresco depicting Christ as the Good Shepherd, believed to be the only known example of this type in Anatolia.
The excavations are being conducted under the direction of Iznik Museum Director Tolga Koparal, with scientific coordination by Professor Aygun Ekin Meric from Dokuz Eylul University's Department of Archaeology. The work is carried out with permission from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.
The Hisardere Necropolis served as a cemetery from the second to fifth centuries, used by both wealthy families and lower social groups from Iznik, ancient Nicaea. The site contains various grave types, including chamber tombs with terracotta plaque roofs considered specific to Iznik, reports turkiyetoday.com.
Photo: turkiyetoday.com
The newly documented chamber tomb was discovered during the 2025 excavation season. The structure extends on a north-south axis, with the east, west and north walls largely intact despite serious damage to the south wall. All three preserved walls and the ceiling are covered with frescoes that include human figures, an unusual feature among painted tombs in the region.
The Good Shepherd scene appears on the north wall, behind a raised platform called a kline where the deceased were laid out on square terracotta slabs. The fresco shows Christ as a young, beardless figure in a simple tunic, carrying a large horned goat across his shoulders. Pairs of goats flank him on either side in a symmetrical arrangement.
Researchers have noted that this represents one of the rare instances of Jesus depicted in Roman style in the region, and marks the first identification of a Christ image within the Hisardere Necropolis.
While no objects suitable for direct dating were found inside the tomb, its structural features correspond to other examples in the necropolis. Based on these comparisons, the chamber tomb is dated to the third century, placing it in the Early Christian period.
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