Ancient Book of Revelation city gives up stunning secret buried for 1,500 years

An ancient mosaic was recently revealed in a Turkish city long known for being one of the seven churches mentioned in the Book of Revelation.

The artwork was uncovered in the ancient city of Smyrna, an archaeological site in modern-day İzmir, Türkiye, according to Turkish state news outlet Anadolu Agency (AA).

Smyrna — along with Ephesus, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea — is one of the seven churches of Asia Minor addressed by Jesus in the Book of Revelation.

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Revelation 2:8 states: "To the angel of the church in Smyrna write: These are the words of him who is the First and the Last, who died and came to life again."

The mosaic was found during infrastructure work at the archaeological site. It dates to between the fourth and sixth centuries A.D., according to officials, and measures roughly 16.4 by 8.2 feet.

Photos show archaeologists brushing away centuries of dirt to reveal the remarkably preserved 1,500-year-old mosaic and its geometric and floral motifs.

Excavation director Akın Ersoy said the mosaic was first found last year, but archaeologists did not fully excavate the artwork until this year, according to AA.

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"In connection with this, we also found traces of the walls that defined the space," said Ersoy.

"We believe that a structure was built over the mosaic during the Ottoman period in the 19th century, and that the new layout was created while avoiding damage to the mosaic floor as much as possible."

The most striking motif is the heart-shaped ivy leaf, which is made of red tesserae, or mosaic tiles.

Though modern people see the heart as a symbol of love, Ersoy said the mosaic was created long before the symbol came to represent romance.

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"It was not very clear in the early periods that the heart represented affection and love. We see the heart emerge as a symbol of love in paintings during the Renaissance," he said.

Rather, Ersoy said the heart-shaped ivy leaf was intended to symbolize loyalty.

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"The ivy leaf clings to trees and walls," he said. "It came to symbolize loyalty and has been used from antiquity through the centuries."

Archaeologists also uncovered bags, cooking pots and earthenware vessels dating to the late Ottoman Empire and the early years of the Turkish Republic, suggesting the space was reused roughly 1,500 years after the mosaic was laid.

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"We can say that the people of that period consciously protected it because there is very little damage," the archaeologist said.

"The space was brought back to life after 1,500 years."

The latest discovery is one of several recent archaeological finds in cities mentioned in the Book of Revelation.

Last summer, archaeologists uncovered a massive Roman council hall in Laodicea, which featured carvings linked to early Christian worship.

Months later, archaeologists announced the discovery of a Roman-era marble bathtub and other ancient artifacts in Ephesus.