Archaeologists working in the heart of Izmir have uncovered three previously unknown rooms and rare wall paintings dating to Late Antiquity at the ancient city of Smyrna.
The discoveries were made during continuing excavations around the Smyrna Agora and theatre, according to the Izmir Metropolitan Municipality. The archaeological project is being conducted on behalf of Izmir Katip Çelebi University with permission from Türkiye’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism.
The three newly identified rooms extend from an area where archaeologists uncovered a mosaic floor during last year’s excavations.
Two of the rooms contain mosaic floors, while the third features marble flooring, suggesting the structures were part of an important architectural complex.
Wall Paintings Found for First Time
Among the most significant discoveries are previously unknown wall paintings found around the Agora and Theatre of Smyrna.
Prof Dr Akın Ersoy, head of the excavation and a faculty member at Izmir Katip Çelebi University, said archaeologists had never previously encountered such paintings in these parts of the ancient city.
“This is the first time we’ve encountered murals in these locations,” Ersoy said. “We had never come across them before in the Smyrna Agora or around the theatre.”
Researchers have noted similarities between the newly excavated buildings and the famous Terrace Houses of ancient Ephesus, known for their elaborate mosaics, frescoes and sophisticated architecture.
Ersoy said the Smyrna structures may have served a public function, although further excavation will be required to determine precisely how they were used.
Discoveries Date to Late Antiquity
Archaeologists have dated the newly uncovered areas to the fifth and sixth centuries AD, a period when Smyrna was undergoing substantial social and architectural transformation.
Following the division of the Roman Empire in AD 395 and the increasing dominance of Christianity, cities across the eastern Mediterranean experienced major changes in their organisation, public spaces and buildings.
Researchers believe the discoveries at Smyrna could provide important new evidence for how the city adapted during this transition from the Roman to the Byzantine world.
Mystery of 2,000-Year-Old Water System
Excavations are also investigating an ancient Roman water channel that may have carried water through Smyrna for approximately 2,000 years.
Archaeologists have so far traced about 150 metres of the channel but have yet to identify its original water source.
During the Roman period, Smyrna’s water supply depended on channels connected to natural springs surrounding the city.
Researchers suspect the newly investigated channel may have originated from a spring near the Namazgah Bath and Kurşunlu Mosque, south of the Agora, before carrying water approximately 150 metres into the ancient city centre.
Further excavations will attempt to locate the source while continuing investigations of the newly discovered rooms and wall paintings.
Together, the finds are providing archaeologists with a clearer picture of how Smyrna’s inhabitants lived, constructed their buildings and managed essential resources as the ancient Roman city evolved during Late Antiquity.
Sources : AA
