MENU
  • Loading ...
  • Loading ...

QLD Tourism

Latest News QLD Tourism

Are you looking for a holiday? Get special deals.

 

Ancient Christian church reveals mysterious 1,600-year-old warning to nonbelievers: 'Only the righteous'

04 Aug 2025 By foxnews

Ancient Christian church reveals mysterious 1,600-year-old warning to nonbelievers: 'Only the righteous'

Archaeologists in Turkey recently excavated the ruins of a millennia-old city, revealing a fifth-century Christian church with a message that hasn't been seen in over 1,000 years.

The excavation took place at Olympus, an ancient Lycian port city in Turkey's Antalya province, according to Anadolu Agency (AA), a state-run news outlet in Ankara.

The city has been excavated continuously since 2006, but during the recent season, archaeologists uncovered multiple mosaic floors, along with large storage jars called pithoi.

ARCHAEOLOGISTS EXCAVATE ANCIENT WORKSHOP WITH UNFINISHED SCULPTURES ON GREEK ISLAND

Excavator Gokcen Kurtulus Oztaskin, an associate professor at Pamukkale University, told AA that the site "continues to surprise us with its mosaics."

The professor noted that "in 2017, 2022 and 2023, we discovered richly decorated mosaic floors at the sites we worked on. This year, we uncovered and restored the floor mosaics of Church No. 1."

The most striking discovery was an inscription found at Church No. 1's entrance. 

Oztaskin translated the message as: "Only those on the righteous path may enter here."

ANCIENT CHRISTIAN TOMB COMPLEX REVEALED BENEATH RUBBLE FROM SYRIA'S CIVIL WAR

Olympus was abandoned by the 12th century - meaning the inscription has not been seen since.

The mosaics also featured vegetable motifs, a common artistic element of the era. 

The names of benefactors were also visible on the mosaics, indicating that an affluent class once flourished in Olympus.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER

Excavators also found a newly uncovered building that resembles a temple, though more work will be done to determine its age and function.

Olympus was in use for several centuries. It still bears some remnants of Hellenistic, Roman and Byzantine architecture.

Archaeologists have uncovered multiple churches, a bridge and an entrance complex.

They also found the Bishop's Palace, the Antimakhos sarcophagus and the Lycian Marcus Aurelius Archepolis Monumental Tomb.

For more Lifestyle articles, visit foxnews.com/lifestyle

The discoveries come on the heels of several recent breakthroughs in early Christian archaeology.

Earlier this spring, an archaeologist uncovered an ancient Christian settlement in Jordan known as Tharais.

Last year, historians unveiled the earliest-known evidence of Christianity north of the Alps, in the form of a silver inscription.

More News

Booking.com
AI models can secretly infect each other
AI models can secretly infect each other
How to quickly recover a disabled Facebook account
How to quickly recover a disabled Facebook account
Stop Google from following your every move
Stop Google from following your every move
Las Vegas casino culture suffers rejection by gamblers of younger generations
Las Vegas casino culture suffers rejection by gamblers of younger generations
Dollywood tops Disney parks in best amusement park rankings survey
Dollywood tops Disney parks in best amusement park rankings survey
Tourists face dangerous 'crush-and-grab' pickpocket schemes in major city
Tourists face dangerous 'crush-and-grab' pickpocket schemes in major city
Sustainable 3D-printed home built primarily from soil
Sustainable 3D-printed home built primarily from soil
Deadly bacterial outbreak infects dozens in city neighborhood as officials sound alarm
Deadly bacterial outbreak infects dozens in city neighborhood as officials sound alarm
Save up to 70% on a new mattress during Mattress Firm's Best Sale of the Year
Save up to 70% on a new mattress during Mattress Firm's Best Sale of the Year
Veteran driver Chris Raschke dies after losing control at 283 mph during record attempt at Utah salt flats
Veteran driver Chris Raschke dies after losing control at 283 mph during record attempt at Utah salt flats
Denise Richards shows up at ex's home after he allegedly 'put down' her dog without permission: report
Denise Richards shows up at ex's home after he allegedly 'put down' her dog without permission: report
Teddi Mellencamp wonders if cancer was her 'payback' for alleged affair with horse trainer
Teddi Mellencamp wonders if cancer was her 'payback' for alleged affair with horse trainer
Teddy Bridgewater to sign with Buccaneers following suspension from high school coaching job
Teddy Bridgewater to sign with Buccaneers following suspension from high school coaching job
Venezuelan suspect 'should never have been in the United States,' police chief says after deadly shooting
Venezuelan suspect 'should never have been in the United States,' police chief says after deadly shooting
Carrie Underwood ditches signature platinum blonde look in dramatic hair transformation
Carrie Underwood ditches signature platinum blonde look in dramatic hair transformation
USA Fencing Minnesota division to only sanction mixed events in response to trans ban
USA Fencing Minnesota division to only sanction mixed events in response to trans ban
Trump signs executive order establishing task force for 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles
Trump signs executive order establishing task force for 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles
School districts hire consultants to recruit students as they face enrollment crisis: report
School districts hire consultants to recruit students as they face enrollment crisis: report
NFL Hall of Fame preseason game rivals NBA playoffs with shocking viewership nationwide
NFL Hall of Fame preseason game rivals NBA playoffs with shocking viewership nationwide
Trump warns he will take 'federal control' of Washington, DC as youth violence continues
Trump warns he will take 'federal control' of Washington, DC as youth violence continues
Latest News

copyright © 2025 QLD Tourism.   All rights reserved.

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z