A rare Byzantine basilica that Erdogan didn't turn into a mosque since it was underwater

[wvwvw]

Submerged 1,500 year-old basilica of St. Neophytos resurfaces with retreat of Lake Iznik in NW Turkey.



SABAH SEP 12, 2020 3:38 PM
The underwater remains of a 1,500-year-old basilica in honor of St. Neophytos has re-emerged with the withdrawal of waters from a lake in the Iznik district of the province of Bursa, northwestern Turkey.

Aerial photographs have helped uncover the basilica, which is believed to date back to the fifth century.

The historical remains of the basilica are located 20 meters from the shoreline and two meters below the usual level of the lake.

Experts estimate that the site of worship was buried in lake waters during an earthquake in 740, however, it has only now reemerged due to the effects of a drought in the region.

Iznik was an important religious center both in Roman and Byzantine times. Some archeologists believe that the basilica is an example of early Christian architecture.

Work has been ongoing since 2015 to present the ruins as part of an underwater museum, as excavations continue.

Over the course of the project, a number of remarkable artifacts have been discovered, including the seal of a number of Scottish knights, who are believed to have been the first foreign visitors to the basilica, before it was swallowed up by Lake Iznik.

https://www.dailysabah.com/life/hist...mpression=true

[pulstar]

Don't you worry, mr Erdogan will build new mosque on its foundations.

[Karadon]

Don't you worry, mr Erdogan will build new mosque on its foundations.

idk why but it seems i cant give thumbs up id give you a thumbs up

[Xyresic]

Erdoğan reverted former museums back into Mosques. As that was what they were beforehand. Nothing new, nothing controversial with what he did.