'Good Shepherd' mural discovered near Iznik, a rare window into the faith of 3rd-century Christians

The discovery of the "Good Shepherd" mural in an underground tomb near Iznik, Türkiye, has revealed one of the most intact and rarest depictions of Jesus Christ from the early Christian era.

Archaeologists in western Turkey, near the historic city of Iznik, have discovered a rare Roman-era mural depicting the "Good Shepherd," an image that depicts Jesus Christ as a kind and protective shepherd.

According to researchers, this work, which dates back to the third century AD, is the most intact known example of this Christian motif in the Anatolian region, once again highlighting Anatolia's place in the history of the Christian faith.

The mural was discovered in a subterranean tomb in the village of Hisarde near Iznik, an area that has long been an important center for the formation and spread of early Christianity. It depicts Jesus Christ as a young, beardless figure, wearing a garment resembling a Roman toga, carrying a goat on his shoulders, a symbolic image that portrays him as the "Good Shepherd."

Researchers believe that the tomb dates back to a time when Christians were still facing widespread pressure, threats, and persecution in the Roman Empire. In such an environment, the use of indirect symbols, rather than overt signs of faith, was a way to express Christian belief and hope for salvation. Before the cross became the universal symbol of Christianity, the image of the “Good Shepherd” was one of the most important symbols of early Christianity; a symbol that reflected concepts such as love, divine protection, guidance, and salvation.

This image is reminiscent of the words of Jesus Christ in the Gospel of John: “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives his life for the sheep.” Therefore, the motif of the Good Shepherd is not only an artistic image, but also a profound expression of the faith and hope of the early Christians.

According to archaeologists, there are very few known examples of the image of the Good Shepherd in Anatolia, and the one discovered in Hisardere has been described as unique in terms of its level of preservation and clarity of the images. "This work is probably the only example of its kind in the region," says Gulshen Kotbay, head of the archaeological team.

The walls and ceiling of the small, narrow tomb are also decorated with paintings of birds, plants, and scenes of aristocratic life. Alongside the image of the Good Shepherd, there are figures of wealthy men and women with servants, reflecting the social structure of the era.

"These paintings show the transition from the late polytheistic period to early Christianity, and in them, the escort of the deceased to the afterlife is depicted in a positive and dignified way," says Erin Erten Artem, an archaeologist at the Iznik Museum.

During archaeological excavations, the skeletons of five people were also discovered in this tomb, three of whom have been identified: "two young men and a six-month-old baby; a finding that has raised new questions about family ties, religious beliefs, and burial rituals of early Christians in this region."

The significance of the discovery is compounded by the historical location of Iznik, the ancient city of Nicaea, where the Council of Nicaea was held in 325 AD and one of the most fundamental documents of the Christian faith, the Nicene Creed, was adopted. Iznik remains a symbol of the formation of Christian theology and the unity of the church in the early centuries.

In recent months, the city has once again been in the spotlight, as Pope Leo XIV visited Iznik on his first foreign trip. Last month, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan presented the Pope with a tiled panel inspired by the archaeological discovery during a meeting to mark the 1,700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea.

Anatolia has played a decisive role in the history of Christianity. Saint Paul was born in Tarsus, Saint John spent the last years of his life in Ephesus, and according to some church traditions, the Virgin Mary also spent her last days near this region. The discovery of the Good Shepherd painting in Hisardere once again shows that this land was not only a witness to historical events, but also a carrier of the faith, hope, and martyrdom of the early Christians.

The discovery of the “Good Shepherd” fresco near Iznik is more than an archaeological find; it is a visual testimony to the living faith of third-century Christians, a faith that, in the midst of fear and persecution, continued to trust in Christ as a protective and savior. This rare work is a bridge between history, art, and faith, and a reminder that the light of Christ has not been extinguished even in the darkest moments of history.