Byzantine structure unearthed from 2023 earthquake rubbles in Antakya
Archaeologists have uncovered a Byzantine vaulted structure beneath the rubble of a two-story house on Kurtuluş Street in Antakya. The house collapsed during the 2023 earthquake centered in Kahramanmaraş, which affected a vast area in southeastern Turkey. In Antakya, the quake caused extensive damage to this street’s significant historical and religious buildings. These structures are now being restored as part of a revitalization project led by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism with support from the European Union.
Antakya is a very ancient city, formerly known as Antioch. It has been one of the most significant cities of antiquity since its foundation during the Hellenistic period by Seleucus I Nicator in 300 BCE. During Byzantine times, it was a critical center of the Empire, a bustling and wealthy metropolis that served as the seat of a patriarch and a vital hub for trade and culture. However, the city suffered devastating earthquakes in the 6th century, most notably in 526 and 528, and was heavily damaged during the Byzantine-Sassanian wars.
Antioch was conquered by the Arabs in 637 during the Rashidun Caliphate’s expansion. The Byzantines reclaimed the city in 969 under Emperor Nikephoros II Phokas, restoring it as a key Byzantine stronghold. It remained under Byzantine control until 1084, when it fell to the Seljuks, following the loss of much of the eastern Byzantine territories after the Battle of Manzikert. The Crusaders captured Antioch in 1098 during the First Crusade, establishing the Principality of Antioch. Emperor Manuel I Komnenos briefly regained control of Antioch in 1137 as part of his efforts to reassert Byzantine dominance in the region. However, this was short-lived, and the Crusaders retook the city in 1150. Their rule lasted until 1268 when the city fell to the Mamluks, and in 1516, Antioch was incorporated into the Ottoman Empire.
According to government sources, the brick-built is reached via stairs that descend to a depth of 5 metres beneath street level. The interior has a semicircular barrel-vaulted ceiling and a series of wall niches adorned with characteristic Byzantine-style arches. The archaeologists suggest that the structure dates from around the 5th or 6th centuries, and may have served as a small chapel or tomb during the Byzantine period.
Following further investigations to determine the structure’s function, local authorities intend to incorporate the discovery into the region’s tourism offerings.
Image Credit : AA
