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Rare 'Good Shepherd' Fresco Unearthed in 3rd-Century Tomb Near Iznik

Experts say the find illustrates a local turn from late pagan funerary art to early Christian imagery in the Nicaea region.

A Roman-era fresco depicting a banquet scene is seen inside a newly uncovered tomb in Hisardere, in Iznik in northwestern Turkey, Friday, Dec. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Khalil Hamra)
A fresco depicting Jesus as the "Good Shepherd" adorns the wall of a 3rd-century tomb in Hisardere, where archaeologists uncovered one of Anatolia's best-preserved early Christian artworks, in Iznik, Turkey, Friday, Dec. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Khalil Hamra)
Archaeologists clean and restore frescoes inside a 3rd-century tomb where a rare early Christian depiction of Jesus as the "Good Shepherd" was discovered, in Iznik, Turkey, Friday, Dec. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Khalil Hamra)
Archaeologist cleans and restores frescoes inside a 3rd-century tomb where a rare early Christian depiction of Jesus as the "Good Shepherd" was discovered, in Iznik, Turkey, Friday, Dec. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Khalil Hamra)

Overview

  • The painting, uncovered in August in an underground tomb at Hisardere near Iznik, is dated to the 3rd century when Christians faced persecution under the Roman Empire.
  • The fresco portrays a youthful, clean-shaven Jesus in Roman dress carrying a goat across his shoulders, a Good Shepherd motif used by early Christians before the cross became dominant.
  • Archaeologists describe the image as a rare example in Anatolia and possibly the only one of its kind locally, with preservation considered exceptional for the region.
  • The tomb’s walls and ceiling feature bird and plant motifs and aristocratic portraits, which researchers interpret as evidence of a transition from late pagan customs to Christian beliefs in burial art.
  • Excavators recovered five skeletons, identifying two young adults and a 6‑month‑old infant among them, and the site has drawn fresh attention following a recent papal visit to Iznik, when Turkey presented a tile of the fresco to the pope.