A basilica remain was discovered under Lake İznik in 2014. It has an interesting historical background. It was a basilica that was built 1600 years ago. It was collapsed through the lake due to the earthquake. This zone has been on a dangerous earthquake line and it is still available for today.

It was realized that it was dedicated to St. Neophytos who was murdered by Roman soldiers. But his body couldn’t be found because his body was removed. Because the grave was open.

It is thought that there used to be a pagan temple under the basilica and it is older than the basilica. This study will be done to discover the history of this area.

Aspendos is one of the important ancient sites of Mediterranean region. 2019 is declared as Aspendos year in Antalya. It is well known ancient site with a theater from Roman period and water channels.

The water channels were developed for the ancient era and also the theater had some futurist features for the era. It has been still standing for centuries. The site had pressed coins and it had a great economy with wide range of export products including olive oil and salt.

Also it was one of the ancient sites that had a long lasting life. There was a settlement even in Seljuk period of region.

We are going back to 1204 and IV. Crusaders campaign. This time period was very important because a Latin kingdom was founded in Constantinople (1204- 1264).

Crusaders planned to conquer Jerusalem so they had a break in Constantinople. Crusaders impressed from the wealthy of Constantinople. East Roman Empire was in conflict in that period. So Crusaders didn’t go to Jerusalem. They invaded Constantinople and they founded a Latin Kingdom in Constantinople. Greek who ran away from Constantinople established small states in Small Asia.

Crusaders had settled in Constantinople for 60 years and they ruined the city. They melted metal monuments and pressed coins. A Latin commander was buried to St.Sophia. Bithynia Kingdom got Constantinople back in 1264. Byzantine Empire was reestablished again. But Constantinople never got golden days back till it became Istanbul.

It was an important time period for the history.

We are going back in time right now. We are tuning the time machine to 4000 years back and our destination will be Harran (today’s county of Şanlıurfa). We are witnessing an important destination between Small Asia and Mesopotamia. It is an destination on Silk road and a great home of science. It is hosting a big education facility we name university in present.It is named as Academia. The religion or the homeland don’t matter. It is the homeland of ancient world’s mathematicians, philosophy and sciences. It is so famous that the sultans and kings of the era respect here deeply. Religions are living in harmony and they all develop their ideas together. It is an interesting experience, isn’t it?

Nisbis academy was located in Nusaybin county of Diyarbakır. It is told that it was founded before the Academia. But due to some registration problems, it couldn’t be registered on time and Academia got the first university title. This academy educated its students in science, philosophy and religion. Also different cultures lived and educated here. The excavations showed us that it was an important education facility of the era.

It seems a great way to realize our world’s development. Southeastern region of Turkey was the region of developed science and tolerance thousand years ago as it is today

Bodrum is hosting a worldwide famous underwater archeological museum. As we know that Halicarnassus was an important destination for trade in ancient era. So many sunken ships and amphoras were discovered in the region. Most of them belong to ancient era. The remains give us valuable information on sea trade in the region and products of the region.

Bodrum Underwater archeological museum is founded at the Bodrum fortress which was built by St.Jean knights by using the stones of legendary Halicarnassus Mausoleion. That mausoleion was one of the seven wonders of ancient era. Even Alexander the Great who conquered here didn’t damage this mausoleion . It was the grave of Persian governor.

We can see the replicas of sunken ships and we can travel in time by the crew of those ships. Amphoras tell us different and magnificent stories from ancient era.

Byzantium was a Greek community that was founded before Constantinople. It was an important settlement for Roman empire. As we know that it was the basic of Constantinople.

It was an important harbor of Greek civilization. We can see a great Greek colony if we travel in time.

Chalcedon was the the harbor of Bithynia and it was neighbor to Constantinople. It had a strategical and historical value. Scutari and Chalcedon were important settlement unites. They are today’s Üsküdar and Kadıköy. We will travel to Chalcedon (Kadıköy).

Chalcedon was very famous in ancient era. Today we came across the remains of Chalcedon due to the construction of high speed train railways. St.Euphemia was the saint of Chaledon and her church used to be here. Unfortunately it is lost in present. Some tombs were found during a construction so it is thought that the church was nearby the region. 

COUNCIL OF CHALCEDON

It was gathered in AD 451 and its goal was to discuss the characters of Jesus (human and supernatural). According to Ephites, Jesus had two characters. This theory was rejected by the council.

So Catholic and Orthodox churches were separated till 20th century. They had been separated for 1500 years.