Appendix to the Byzantine Churches of Nikaia: Newly  Discovered Building at the Iznik Tile Kilns Excavation

Ermiş, Ümmühan; Demirsar Arlı, Vesile

doi:https://dx.doi.org/10.26650/anar.32.1666996

Research Article

DOI :10.26650/anar.32.1666996 IUP :10.26650/anar.32.1666996 Full Text (PDF)

Appendix to the Byzantine Churches of Nikaia: Newly Discovered Building at the Iznik Tile Kilns Excavation

Ümmühan Melda Ermiş, Vesile Belgin Demirsar Arlı

Recent research and archaeological excavations in Iznik, known as Nikaia in ancient times, have uncovered significant new findings from the Byzantine period. One of these findings is from the Iznik Tile Kilns excavation, which has provided detailed information on Ottoman tile and ceramic production techniques and processes for many years. During the excavation seasons from 2019 to 2024, the remains of a previously unknown Byzantine religious building were discovered adjacent to the kilns, differing from the general context of the excavations. The excavation area was utilized by Ottomanera tile and ceramic workshops for many years. First, the workshops and then the modern residences built in the region after the workshops lost their function ruined the Byzantine structure. The excavations suggest that the building was likely the main church, with a side chapel located to its north. The main church suffered significant destruction due to the tile kilns established on its site during the Ottoman period, though part of its apse remains intact. The side chapel features better preserved architectural details, despite being partially damaged by modern houses built above it. This study offers preliminary evaluations of the building’s architectural features and small finds, while also noting that the location of the newly discovered church aligns with that of the Kerameon Monastery, as indicated by information from Byzantine sources.

Keywords: Bithynia, Nikaia, Iznik, Byzantine, Church, Iznik Tile Kilns Excavation

References

Acara M. & Olcay, Y. (1998). Bizans Döneminde Aydınlatma Düzeni ve Demre Aziz Nikolaos Kilisesi’nde Kullanılan Aydınlatma Gereçleri. Adalya, II, 249–266. google scholar
Acara, M. (2018). Maden Buluntular 1989-1999. In S. Doğan – E. F. Fındık (Eds.), Aziz Nikolaos Kilisesi Kazıları 1989-2009 (pp.353-380). İstanbul: Homer Kitabevi. google scholar
Aslanapa, O., Yetkin, Ş. & Altun, A. (1989). İznik Çini Fırınları Kazısı II. Dönem 1981–1988. İstanbul: İstanbul Araştırma Merkezi. google scholar
Aslanapa, O. (1995). İznik Çini Fırınları Kazısı 1992 Yılı Çalışmaları. Kazı Sonuçları Toplantısı 15/2, 547-563. google scholar
Bendall, S. & Donald, P. J. (1974). The Billion Trachea of Michael VIII Palaeologos 1258–1282. London. google scholar
Bendall, S. (1988). A Private Collection of Palaeologan Coins. Wolverhampton. google scholar
Bulgurlu, V. (2018). Maden Buluntular 2000-2009. In S. Doğan – E. F. Fındık (Eds.), Aziz Nikolaos Kilisesi Kazıları 1989-2009 (pp.381-456). İstanbul: Homer Kitabevi. google scholar
Cotsonis, J. A. (1994). Byzantine Figural Processional Crosses. Washington DC: Dumbarton Oaks. google scholar
Çetinkaya, H. (2020). Kuruluşundan Osmanlıya İznik, Bursa: Dora Basım Yayın Dağıtım. google scholar
Demirel Gökalp, Z. (2016). Kütahya Müzesinden Bir Grup Metal Eser. Kütahya Müzesi 2015 Yıllığı, III, 241-272. google scholar
Demiriz, Y. (2002). Interlaced Byzantine mosaic pavements. İstanbul. google scholar
Demirsar Arlı, V. B. & Altun A. (2009). İznik Çini Fırınları Kazısı 2007 Yılı Çalışmaları. Kazı Sonuçları Toplantısı 30/I, 359–376. google scholar
Demirsar Arlı, V. B. (2017). İznik Çini Fırınları Kazısı 2015 Yılı Çalışmaları. Kazı Sonuçları Toplantısı 38/ 2, 371–388. google scholar
Demirsar Arlı, V. B. (2018). İznik Çini Fırınları Kazısı 2016 Yılı Çalışmaları, Kazı Sonuçları Toplantısı 39/3, 445–459. google scholar
Demirsar Arlı, V. B. (2022). İznik Çini Fırınları Kazısı 2019–2020 Yılı Çalışmaları. 2019–2020 Yılı Kazı Çalışmaları 1, 303–322. google scholar
Demirsar Arlı, V. B. (2023). İznik Çini Fırınları Kazısı 2021 Yılı Çalışmaları. Kazı Sonuçları Toplantısı 42/5, 361–374. google scholar
Demirsar Arlı, V. B. (2024). İznik Çini Fırınları Kazısı 2022 Yılı Çalışmaları. Kazı Sonuçları Toplantısı 43/ 4, 391-406. google scholar
Ermiş, Ü. M. (2009). İznik ve Çevresi Bizans Devri Mimari Faaliyetinin Değerlendirilmesi. (unpublished doctoral dissertation). İstanbul Üniversitesi. google scholar
Ermiş, Ü. M. (2011). İznik Sarayı Çevresindeki Kiliseler. In M. Şahin & İ. H. Mert (Eds.), I. Uluslararası İznik I. Konsil Senato Sarayı'nın Lokalizasyonu Çalıştayı Bildirileri (pp.79-103). Bursa. google scholar
Eyice, S. (1988). İznik Tarihçesi ve Eski Eserleri, İstanbul: Sanat Tarihi Araştırmaları Dergisi. google scholar
Foss, C. & Tulchin, J. (1996). Nicaea: A Byzantine Capital and Its Praises. Brookline: Hellenic College Press. google scholar
François, V. (1997). Les ateliers de céramique byzantine de Nicée/Iznik et leur production (Xe – début XIVe siècle). Bulletin de Correspondance Hellénique 121–1, 411- 442. google scholar
Galavaris, G. (1994). The Cross in the Book of Ceremonies by Constantine Porphrogenitus, In Thymiama ste mneme tes Laskarinas Boura (Studies in Memory of Laskarina Boura), I. (pp.95-99).Athens: Benaki Museum. google scholar
Grierson, P. (1999). Michael VIII to Constantine XI 1258–1453, Catalogue of the Byzantine Coins in the Dumbarton Oaks Collection and in the Whittemore Collection. A. R. Bellinger and P. Grierson (Eds.), Vol. 5, Part 2, Washington D.C. google scholar
Guidobaldi, F. & Guiglia Guidobaldi, A. (1983). Pavimenti marmorei di Roma dal IV al IX secolo. Roma. google scholar
Guiglia Guidobaldi, A. (1994). L’opus sectile pavimentale in area Bizantina. In Atti del 1. Collo quio dell’Associazione Italiana per lo Studio e la Conservazione del Mosaico (AISCOM).(pp. 643–663). Ravenna. google scholar
Janin, R. (1975). Les églises et les Monastères des Grands Centers Byzantins (Bithynie, Hellespont, Latros, Galèsios, Trébizonde, Athènes, Thessalonique). Paris: Institut Français d'études Byzantines. google scholar
Lianta, E. (2009). Late Byzantine Coins 1204-1453 in The Ashmolean Museum. London: University of Oxford. google scholar
Mango, C. (2005). The Meeting-Place of the First Ecumenical Council and the Church of the Holy Fathers at Nicaea, Deltion tes Chris-tianikes Archaiologikes Etaireias, 26, 27-34. google scholar
Meriç Z. A. & Ekin Meriç, A. (2021). 2012–2019 Yılları Arasında İznik Roma Tiyatrosu’nda Bulunan Bizans Sırlı Seramiklerinin Değerlendirilmesi. SDÜ Fen Edebiyat Fakültesi Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi 54, 49-66. google scholar
Möllers, S. (1994). Die Hagia Sophia in Iznik/Nikaia. Alfter. google scholar
Niewöhner, P., Rabbel, W., Stümpel, H., Pašteka R. & Barış, Ş. (2010). Eine neu entdeckte byzantinische Kirche in Iznik/Nikaia. Istanbuler Mitteilungen, 60, 475-490. google scholar
Olcay Uçkan B.Y. & Çömezoğlu Uzbek, Ö. (2018). Cam Buluntular. In S. Doğan – E. F. Fındık (Eds.), Aziz Nikolaos Kilisesi Kazıları 1989-2009 (pp.513-551). İstanbul: Homer Kitabevi. google scholar
Özkul Fındık, N. (2014). İznik Sırlı Seramikleri – Roma Tiyatrosu Kazısı (1980–1995). Ankara: Bilgin Kültür Sanat Yayınları. google scholar
Özyiğit. Ö. (1990). Alaturka Kiremidin Oluşumu. Sanat Tarihi Dergisi, 5/5, 149-179. google scholar
Papanikola-Bakirtzi, D. (ed.) (2002). Everyday Life in Byzantium, Athens. google scholar
Peschlow, U. (2003). The Churches of Nicaea / Iznik. In I. Akbaygil et al. (Eds.), Iznik Throuhout History (pp.201- 218). İstanbul: Türkiye İş Bankası Yayınları. google scholar
Peschlow, U. (2017). Nicaea. In P. Niewöhner (Ed.), The Archaeology of Byzantine Anatolia, From the End of Late Antiquity until the Coming of the Turks (pp.203-216). New York: Oxford University Press. google scholar
Pinatsi, C. (2006). New observation on the pavement of the church of Hagia Sophia in Nicaea. Byzantinische Zeitschrift, 99, 119–126. google scholar
Pitarakis, B. (2006). Les Croix-Reliquaires Pectorales Byzantines en Bronze. Paris: Picard. google scholar
Sandin, K. A. (1992). Middle Byzantine bronze crosses of intermediate size: Form, use and meaning. (Doctoral dissertation, The State University of New Jersey). google scholar
Schneider, A. M. (1943). Die römischen und byzantinischen Denkmäler von İznik–Nicaea. Berlin. google scholar
Strabo, (1961). Geography. H. L. Jones, (Trans.) Vol.5, London: Loeb Classical Library. google scholar
Şahin, M. (2022). Underwater Excavation at the Basilica Church in İznik Lake – 2019. International Journal of Environment and Geoinformatics, 9-2, 71-80. google scholar
Theodori Studitae, (1860). Theodori Studitae Opera Omnia, Epistolae. Migne (Ed.), PG 99, Paris. google scholar
Yılmaz, Y. (2021). Arkeotanatoloji ve Anadolu Arkeolojisi’nde uygulanması: Tekli birincil gömütler. Antropoloji, 41, 156–171. google scholar
Waksman, Y. & François, V. (2004). Vers une redéfinition typologique et analytique des céramiques du type Zeuxippus Ware. Bulletin de Correspondance Hellénique 128– 129 / 2.1, 629–724. google scholar

Citations

Copy and paste a formatted citation or use one of the options to export in your chosen format

EXPORT

APA

Ermiş, Ü.M., & Demirsar Arlı, V.B. (2025). Appendix to the Byzantine Churches of Nikaia: Newly Discovered Building at the Iznik Tile Kilns Excavation. Anatolian Research, 0(32), 254-272. https://doi.org/10.26650/anar.32.1666996

AMA

Ermiş Ü M, Demirsar Arlı V B. Appendix to the Byzantine Churches of Nikaia: Newly Discovered Building at the Iznik Tile Kilns Excavation. Anatolian Research. 2025;0(32):254-272. https://doi.org/10.26650/anar.32.1666996

ABNT

Ermiş, Ü.M.; Demirsar Arlı, V.B. Appendix to the Byzantine Churches of Nikaia: Newly Discovered Building at the Iznik Tile Kilns Excavation. Anatolian Research, [Publisher Location], v. 0, n. 32, p. 254-272, 2025.

Chicago: Author-Date Style

Ermiş, Ümmühan Melda, and Vesile Belgin Demirsar Arlı. 2025. “Appendix to the Byzantine Churches of Nikaia: Newly Discovered Building at the Iznik Tile Kilns Excavation.” Anatolian Research 0, no. 32: 254-272. https://doi.org/10.26650/anar.32.1666996

Chicago: Humanities Style

Ermiş, Ümmühan Melda, and Vesile Belgin Demirsar Arlı. “Appendix to the Byzantine Churches of Nikaia: Newly Discovered Building at the Iznik Tile Kilns Excavation.” Anatolian Research 0, no. 32 (Aug. 2025): 254-272. https://doi.org/10.26650/anar.32.1666996

Harvard: Australian Style

Ermiş, ÜM & Demirsar Arlı, VB 2025, 'Appendix to the Byzantine Churches of Nikaia: Newly Discovered Building at the Iznik Tile Kilns Excavation', Anatolian Research, vol. 0, no. 32, pp. 254-272, viewed 29 Aug. 2025, https://doi.org/10.26650/anar.32.1666996

Harvard: Author-Date Style

Ermiş, Ü.M. and Demirsar Arlı, V.B. (2025) ‘Appendix to the Byzantine Churches of Nikaia: Newly Discovered Building at the Iznik Tile Kilns Excavation’, Anatolian Research, 0(32), pp. 254-272. https://doi.org/10.26650/anar.32.1666996 (29 Aug. 2025).

MLA

Ermiş, Ümmühan Melda, and Vesile Belgin Demirsar Arlı. “Appendix to the Byzantine Churches of Nikaia: Newly Discovered Building at the Iznik Tile Kilns Excavation.” Anatolian Research, vol. 0, no. 32, 2025, pp. 254-272. [Database Container], https://doi.org/10.26650/anar.32.1666996

Vancouver

Ermiş ÜM, Demirsar Arlı VB. Appendix to the Byzantine Churches of Nikaia: Newly Discovered Building at the Iznik Tile Kilns Excavation. Anatolian Research [Internet]. 29 Aug. 2025 [cited 29 Aug. 2025];0(32):254-272. Available from: https://doi.org/10.26650/anar.32.1666996 doi: 10.26650/anar.32.1666996

ISNAD

Ermiş, ÜmmühanMelda - Demirsar Arlı, VesileBelgin. “Appendix to the Byzantine Churches of Nikaia: Newly Discovered Building at the Iznik Tile Kilns Excavation”. Anatolian Research 0/32 (Aug. 2025): 254-272. https://doi.org/10.26650/anar.32.1666996

Issue 322025, P. 254-272

TIMELINE

Submitted	27.03.2025
Accepted	02.07.2025
Published Online	17.07.2025

LICENCE

Attribution-NonCommercial (CC BY-NC)

This license lets others remix, tweak, and build upon your work non-commercially, and although their new works must also acknowledge you and be non-commercial, they don’t have to license their derivative works on the same terms.

Anatolian Research