Roman Gladiator’s Sarcophagus Uncovered in Turkey’s Izmir

In the Selçuk district of western Turkiye’s İzmir, a sarcophagus believed to belong to a Roman gladiator from the third century BC was uncovered. This sarcophagus was later repurposed in the fifth century AD to hold the remains of 12 individual skeletons, with the lead sarcophagus identified as having belonged to a Roman gladiator named Euphrates. The sarcophagus is decorated with epic inscriptions on the outside, and three cross reliefs were added inside during the later repurposing.

The discovery was made during ongoing excavations at Ayasuluk Hill and the St. Jean Monument, which are being conducted under the leadership of associate professor Sinan Mimaroğlu from the Department of Art History at Hatay Mustafa Kemal University.

These excavations have the support of various institutions and are being carried out with permission from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, reports The Daily Sabah. Epigraphic analysis was conducted by associate professor Ertan Yıldız.

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Selcuk (or Seljuk), Izmir, Turkey. (Hugh Llewelyn/ CC BY-SA 2.0)

A Sophisticated Sarcophagus, Beautiful Inscriptions

Similar examples of sarcophagi have been found in Istanbul, on Marmara Island, and in Syria. Mimaroğlu expressed surprise at the team’s discovery of a water channel, a pipe system, mosaics, a sarcophagus, and three stone graves shaped like sarcophagi, located just 20 centimeters below the surface. The tomb contained 12 individuals, suggesting it was used for collective burial.

“We found one tomb and three tomb-like structures, with 12 individuals inside. This indicates a collective burial. The sarcophagus is a Roman one with a very beautiful epic inscription. It belonged to a Roman gladiator and was repurposed during the Christian period with three cross reliefs added inside,” Mimaroğlu explained.

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The repurposed tomb contained mosaics, sarcophagus and 12 interred individuals. (IHA/ Screenshot)

Regarding the church where the sarcophagus was found, Mimaroğlu explained that it was initially a small tomb structure before being transformed into a wooden-roofed basilica and later into a domed church during the reign of Emperor Justinian I. He highlighted the significance of the burials within the church, noting that those interred in the church were likely of high status or clergy members, as ordinary individuals were not typically buried inside churches, particularly near the cross area, reports Turkiye Today.

Initial findings suggest that the crosses inside the sarcophagus were carved in the fifth century, while the cross reliefs on the lid were likely added in the seventh or eighth century. Mimaroğlu added that archaeological evidence shows the mosaic beneath the sarcophagus was removed and placed there after the time of Justinian I.

On the topic of cross reliefs in the sarcophagus, Mimaroğlu noted that similar cross-decorated sarcophagi are usually seen in imperial burials in Istanbul, although they tend to be made from higher-quality materials. He pointed to a similar sarcophagus found on Marmara Island and another in Syria, though the cross shapes differ. The excavation team is continuing to search for comparable examples for future publication.

Going Back in Time: Layers upon Layers

Mimaroğlu also suggested there is early evidence indicating that the site may be the first location of Ephesus. He mentioned the discovery of ceramics dating back to the second millennium BC, as well as from the Early, Middle, and Late Bronze Ages. This year, the team focused their efforts on the South Cross arm of the Church of St. John. He referred to the initial excavations of the church, which began in 1921-1922 by the Greek archaeologist Soteriou, and noted that he has led the current phase of excavations since 2020.

Georadar studies conducted in 2023 that revealed earlier sondages (test trenches) by Hörmann. These sondages yielded findings that were confirmed when the excavation area was expanded. During these efforts, a marble floor was uncovered. The top layer of the marble flooring was from the sixth century, during the reign of Justinian I, while the marble floor unearthed this year was confirmed to date from the fifth century.

Top image: The mosaic in the tomb of the gladiator unearthed in Izmir, Türkiye.              Source: IHA/Screenshot

By Sahir Pandey