International congress of byzantine studies belgrade, 22 27 august 2016

Ferudun Özgümüş
Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey; 
[e-mail]
Recent Archaeological Finds in Byzantine Istanbul
Our investigations were carried out between 2013-2015 in the old part of the city by three 
scholars of Istanbul University. F.Özgümüş, M.Ermiş, H.F.Yılmaz. Below is the list of our discoveries 
which have yet to be published.
Early Christian Basilica in The Roman Forum of Tauri: An Early Christian Basilica came to 
light during the restoration work of the Beyazıt Mosque from the 15
th
C. Only a small part of the 
structure, which is the sanctuary section with three apses, survives to our days. This three aisled 
basilical church has the traces of the Hierarkh in its apse. In the south of the structure is a narthex 
with some burials apparently this portion was added later.

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Substructure under the Northern Building of Former Pantokrator Church: Another 
Restoration work in the city yielded an important substructure under the north building of the 
Famous Pantokrator of Istanbul. This substructure is in basilical form and has some burials in it.
Church at Ayvansaray on the ruins of so-called Anemas Dungeon: A Small and only a little part 
left church ruin was discovered in 2009 on the ruins of Anemas Dungeon in the ancient Blakherna 
Region of Istanbul. It must have been made after 1100 which was the construction date of Anemas.
Cross-in Square Church Substructure at K. M. Paşa: It was discovered by H. F. Yılmaz and 
briefly mentioned in a journal of Vakıflar in Istanbul.This late Byzantine Substructure was used as a 
cistern and its discovery become a big contribution to the Archaeology of Byzantine İstanbul. 
Middle Byzantine Structure in the District of Eminönü: Located on the Alay Köşkü 
Caddesi(Avenue) near Sultanahmet next to a Hotel called Albion. Three horse-shoe shaped arches 
resting on three in situ columns probably date to Middle Byzantine. Intercolumnium was walled 
up and this wall has concealed brick technique which is another proof of Middle Byzantine date.
Frescoes in the Martyrion of Sts. Karpos and Papylos: Those frescoes are St.Demetrius, Christ 
Pantocrator and four Seraphims and circular inscription frieze surrounding the image of Christ. They 
were published incompletely and hastily by a Polish Scholars in 2010. Ayça Bego from İstanbul was 
another one who saw all these frescoes but none was able to identify them properly and none was 
able to have the inscription deciphered. Circular inscription around the image of Christ is verse from 
Psalms 102/19-20 and it reads ‘’The LORD looked down from his sanctuary on high from heaven he 
viewed the earth, to hear the groans of the prisoners and release those condemned to death.”
Two more frescoes and some sculptural pieces from Istanbul: One of the frescoes came to light 
in the Zeyrek Camii of former Pantokrator Church.It was plastered in the ottoman time so was not 
visible. Located in the north-east corner of the south aisle of the building and when the plaster was 
removed it became visible. Impossible to identify it as it was badly damaged besides it has some 
indentations for its later plastering. Second fresco is much better preserved and almost intact. It was 
found behind late Ottoman Wall in the western wall of the narthex of Libos Monastery which is 
currently the Mosque of Fenari İsa. This Fresco depicts a warrior saint but as there is no writing or 
any inscription so we are not able to identify it.
In 16
th
C Bath of Hürrem we found some pieces of architectural sculptural mainly from the 
2
nd
C BC and all deposited in Museum of Vakıflar. They may have been pieces from ancient pagan 
temples of Byzantium once stood near the location of this Ottoman Bath.

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