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.
Excavator Gokcen Kurtulus Oztaskin, an associate professor at Pamukkale University, told AA that the site 'continues to surprise us with its mosaics.'
Advertisement
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.'
4 During the recent season, archaeologists uncovered multiple mosaic floors, along with large storage jars called pithoi.
Anadolu via Getty Images
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.'
Advertisement
Olympus was abandoned by the 12th century — meaning the inscription has not been seen since.
4 The most striking discovery was an inscription found at Church No. 1's entrance.
Anadolu via Getty Images
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.
Advertisement
Excavators also found a newly uncovered building that resembles a temple, though more work will be done to determine its age and function.
4 Oztaskin translated the message as: 'Only those on the righteous path may enter here.'
Anadolu via Getty Images
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.
4 The mosaics also featured vegetable motifs, a common artistic element of the era.
Anadolu via Getty Images
The discoveries come on the heels of several recent breakthroughs in early Christian archaeology.
Advertisement
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.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Epoch Times
8 hours ago
- Epoch Times
Orange County Responds Swiftly to Gas Emergency
One of the things that makes Orange County so special is how our municipalities come together to help one another and our residents in times of need. Last week, we had a great example of that willingness to help and community spirit in action. A gas line emergency in the Town of Woodbury triggered a county and local municipal response, of which I was super proud. The Orange County Emergency Services team, Town of Woodbury Supervisor Kate Luciani, the New York State Police, Town of Woodbury Police, Fire, EMS, the American Red Cross, and others all jumped into action to work together to assist residents who were displaced and get the situation remedied as safely and as quickly as possible. Their coordinated efforts stabilized the situation and ensured that individuals, families, and their pets were safe. A special thank you to Colleen from Jay's Deli in Highland Mills, who worked late into the night to provide food for those temporarily sheltered at the Town of Woodbury Senior Center. Central Hudson also worked diligently to get everyone back into their homes as soon as possible. Moments like this remind me how strong our community truly is and how teamwork is so essential. On the topic of strong communities, I want to express my gratitude to our local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies, along with the Orange County District Attorney and the Sheriff's Office, for their continued efforts to keep guns and fentanyl off our streets. Their dedication makes the county a safer place for everyone, especially our children, and reminds us once again how critical it is for agencies and organizations to work together to protect our neighborhoods. That same spirit of service was on full display as we recently celebrated the good citizenship of a few incredible residents. Congratulations to Terry and Jacqueline Murray of Cornwall and Donna Drybred of Goshen, our 2025 Seniors of the Year! Their lives have been shaped by generosity and commitment to their communities, whether championing youth programs, supporting local nonprofits, or beautifying neighborhoods. Thank you to each of them for inspiring us all. Speaking of inspiration, love is in the air this summer! I had the honor of officiating Orange County DPW EFS Deputy Commissioner Bob Gray's beautiful wedding on the water, fireworks included. I also celebrated my friend Jim Delaune's (of the Orange County Land Trust) daughter's wedding, as well as the wonderful celebration of Christian and Jourdan. Christian, one of the owners of Pasta D'oro at The Jolly Onion, and Jourdan, who works with us in county government, are a terrific couple. Congratulations to all the newlyweds! Summer is a perfect time to support local businesses, and I was glad to stop at Kerry's Kones in New Windsor to enjoy a sweet treat served with a smile. Small businesses like Kerry's are the backbone of our community, so if you're nearby, stop in and show them your support. If you know of any others that I should check out, please let me know! Looking ahead, don't forget, the New York Air Show is just three weeks away! Join us on Aug. 23 and 24 at the Orange County Airport for an unforgettable event featuring the F-22 Raptor Demo, MV-22 Osprey Demo, P-51 Mustang Demo, the West Point Parachute Team, and the exciting CyberBeast vs. Cybertruck showdown. Grab your tickets now at and get ready for an exciting weekend. And finally, an amazing personal adventure to share: As part of Shark Week, I took my two sons, ages 8 and 11, swimming with sharks in Florida. No cage, just us in the open water alongside black-tip, bull, hammerhead, tiger, lemon, and a few other shark breeds. My boys were fearless! We even had a National Geographic photographer capture the experience while I worked on improving my GoPro skills. For those who fish, you'll appreciate that we always release the sharks we catch, using circle hooks, which are now law in most states, to ensure they're hooked safely in the mouth. Many species are endangered, and seeing them up close is both humbling and incredible. It's been a summer full of teamwork, celebration, and unforgettable experiences. I look forward to seeing many of you at the Air Show and, as always, around the county!
Miami Herald
12 hours ago
- Miami Herald
Ancient ‘fairy houses' — still filled with treasures — found in Italy. See them
In the rocky landscape of Sardinia, Italy, sat a trio of ancient 'fairy houses.' Archaeologists had spent almost 200 years excavating and studying the area, but these small, underground structures went overlooked — until now. A team of archaeologists began work at the Necropolis of Saint Andrea Priu, a site on Sardinia island with a mixture of ruins from prehistoric times until the Early Middle Ages, as part of an ongoing project to excavate, restore and generally improve the complex, the Regional Secretariat of the Ministry of Culture for Sardinia said in a July 29 news release. While working on a rocky plateau, archaeologists noticed something in between two exposed tombs. Something about the landscape suggested it might hide an unexplored structure, officials said. Archaeologists began digging, and what reemerged surpassed their expectations: They found three domus de janas. 'Legend has it that the Janas were small fairies who lived in tiny houses carved into the rock, called Domus de Janas, or fairy houses,' according to the Italian Ministry of Tourism. 'Some say that fairies used to spend their time weaving on their magnificent golden looms and watching over the children's sleep. Some say they lavished their riches on those who deserved it, there are those who swear they saw them in person playing or fighting with other fantastic creatures such as elves and goblins.' In reality, domus de janas are small 'rock-cut tombs' carved between 5,000 and 7,000 years ago 'that reflect the funerary practices, spiritual beliefs, and social evolution of Sardinia's prehistoric communities,' according to UNESCO World Heritage Convention. These underground burials 'feature complex layouts, symbolic decorations, and figurative motifs.' Archaeologists named the three newly uncovered 'fairy houses' Tomb XVIII, XIX and XX, officials said. The exact size of the tombs was not provided but, based on photos from the excavation, the structures are roughly child-sized. Tomb XVIII has a corridor-like entrance leading to a rectangular chamber with a hearth, depicted as two concentric circles, archaeologists said. The rectangular chamber connects to two more chambers. Around the tomb entrance, excavations found pickaxes, obsidian fragments and a spindle. Tomb XIX is the smallest of the three domus de janas, officials said. It has an external pavilion structure, a central rectangular chamber and a secondary rounded chamber. Inside, archaeologists found a miniature vase and other pottery. Tomb XX is the most complex of the three and has seven chambers, archaeologists said. One chamber still had some decorative paint, while the others had over 30 Roman-era artifacts such as jugs, plates and lamps. Officials shared photos of these ancient Roman-era artifacts in a July 28 Facebook post. Archaeologists did not provide exact ages for the newly uncovered 'fairy houses' but said these types of structures are generally prehistoric and over 5,000 years old. Tombs XVIII, XIX and XX are already accessible to visitors at the Necropolis of Saint Andrea Priu, and other excavation work is ongoing, officials said. The Necropolis of Saint Andrea Priu is in central Sardinia, an island off the western coast of Italy and in the Mediterranean Sea. Google Translate was used to translate the news release and Facebook post from the Regional Secretariat of the Ministry of Culture for Sardinia.
New York Post
20 hours ago
- New York Post
Denmark zoo asks people to donate their pets as food for its predators
A zoo in Denmark is asking for donations of small pets as food for its predators. The Aalborg Zoo said it is trying to mimic the natural food chain of the animals housed there 'for the sake of both animal welfare and professional integrity' and offers assurances the pets will be 'gently euthanized' by trained staff. 3 The Aalborg Zoo in Denmark is asking for donations of small pets as food for its predators. Getty Images The zoo in northern Denmark explained in a Facebook post that 'if you have a healthy animal that needs to be given away for various reasons, feel free to donate it to us.' The zoo points to guinea pigs, rabbits and chickens as possible donations. After being euthanized, the animals will be used as fodder, the zoo said. 'That way, nothing goes to waste — and we ensure natural behavior, nutrition and well-being of our predators,' the zoo said. The online call for pet donations is accompanied by a picture of a wildcat baring its teeth with its mouth wide open and a link to the zoo's website, noting the facility also is interested in receiving horses. 3 Staff said it is trying to mimic the natural food chain of the animals housed at the zoo. Getty Images 3 The zoo assures the pets will be 'gently euthanized' by trained staff. Getty Images The zoo, which could not immediately be reached for additional details, does not list other pets or animals as possible donations.
