A Rare “Good Shepherd” Depiction Emerges from a Hypogeum Tomb in İznik

A quiet corner of Hisardere Nekropolü in İznik has produced a discovery that specialists are calling one of the most remarkable Early Christian finds in recent years: a painted “Good Shepherd” (Çoban İsa) figure, believed to be the only example of its kind ever documented in Anatolia. The scene was uncovered inside a carefully constructed hypogeum tomb, preserved well enough to transform current understandings of İznik’s funerary traditions.

The excavation is conducted under the permission of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and directed by İznik Museum Director Tolga Koparal. Scientific coordination is led by Prof. Dr. Aygün Ekin Meriç of Dokuz Eylül University, with Dr. Gülşen Kutbay contributing to the interdisciplinary fieldwork.

A Painted Tomb Unlike Any Other in İznik

Archaeologists have long known that Hisardere Nekropolü served as a shared burial ground between the 2nd and 5th centuries CE, used both by elite local families and the wider community. Within this landscape, İznik is already notable for its distinctive terracotta-roofed chamber tombs. Yet the hypogeum opened in the 2025 season stands apart from anything found before.

The tomb stretches on a north–south axis, its southern wall largely damaged, but its eastern, western, and northern walls survive with their frescoes almost entirely intact. These painted surfaces introduce an unexpected iconographic richness, differing from the more restrained decorative schemes typical of the region.

A clay-tile-covered klinē occupies the northern side of the chamber, indicating where the deceased would have been laid to rest. Immediately above it, on the well-preserved plastered wall, the team encountered a vibrant composition: a youthful, beardless Jesus in a Roman tunic, carrying a horned goat across his shoulders. Pairs of goats flank him symmetrically, creating a pastoral scene that blends classical visual language with early Christian symbolism.

Researchers underline that this is not only a rare Good Shepherd depiction but also one of the few instances where Jesus is portrayed with distinctly Roman attributes in the Anatolian interior.

Dating the Tomb to the 3rd Century CE

No artifacts suitable for direct dating were recovered from the tomb’s interior. However, its architectural features closely align with other structures in the necropolis dated to the 3rd century CE. If this assessment is confirmed, the tomb would represent one of the region’s earliest and most expressive examples of Christian imagery during a time when Christianity was still emerging within local communities.

The discovery also marks the first instance of a Jesus depiction ever identified at Hisardere Nekropolü, adding an important chapter to İznik’s already rich archaeological narrative.

This report, covering the discovery of the Good Shepherd depiction in İznik, is an exclusive story by Arkeolojihaber. All photographs used in this article were provided by IHA and Arkeolojihaber.