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A rare depiction of Prophet Jesus (pbuh) as the “Good Shepherd” has come to light in a chamber tomb at Hisardere Necropolis in ancient Nicaea (today’s Iznik) in Bursa province. The scene is considered the only known example of this type identified to date in Anatolia, and researchers regard it as a highly significant discovery for archaeology in Türkiye and worldwide. Arkeolojihaber, a Turkish social media news channel, first shared the find.
The excavations at Hisardere Necropolis are being carried out with permission from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism under the direction of Iznik Museum Director Tolga Koparal. Scientific coordination rests with Professor Aygun Ekin Meric from the Department of Archaeology at Dokuz Eylul University, while Gulsen Kutbay also takes part in the expert team.
Hisardere Necropolis is understood to have been used as a cemetery between the second and fifth centuries by both wealthy families from Iznik and lower social groups. Different grave types stand side by side in this area, and among them are chamber tombs with roofs made of terracotta plaques that are considered specific to Iznik.
The newly documented chamber tomb, described as a hipoje, or chamber tomb, was uncovered during the 2025 excavation season and has drawn particular attention because of its wall paintings. The structure extends on a north–south axis. Although the south wall has suffered serious damage, the east, west and north walls have largely remained intact, which allows the painted program to be followed in considerable detail.
The three preserved walls and the ceiling of the tomb are covered with frescoes. Unlike other painted tombs in the region, these surfaces contain human figures, which makes the monument stand out within the local funerary landscape.
Along the north wall, a raised platform known as a kline has been identified. This kline is covered with square terracotta slabs, and it is understood that the deceased were laid out on these slabs. Immediately behind the kline, on the north wall itself, the rare Good Shepherd composition has been preserved.
The Good Shepherd scene shows Jesus as a young, beardless figure wearing a simple tunic. He carries a large horned goat across his shoulders, while pairs of goats on either side of him create a symmetrical arrangement within the composition. The scene is described as one of the very few Good Shepherd images known from Anatolia.
The team has also underlined that this is one of the rare instances in which Jesus is represented in a clearly Roman style in the region. In addition, this is the first time that a depiction of Jesus has been identified in a tomb at Hisardere Necropolis, which further strengthens the importance of the discovery for the study of Early Christian visual culture in Anatolia.
No objects suitable for direct dating have been recovered from inside the tomb. However, its structural features are said to correspond closely to other examples already known in the same necropolis. On this basis, the chamber tomb is dated to the third century, placing it in the Early Christian period.
Because of this dating and because it preserves what may be the only known Good Shepherd scene in Anatolia so far, the tomb has come to be seen as one of the most striking Early Christian monuments yet documented in the region, while also marking the first identification of a Jesus image within Hisardere Necropolis.
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