Archaeologists have discovered a 1.7 thousand-year-old episcopal palace in Italy.
Archaeologists in the Ostia Bay area have discovered one of the most significant sites of early Christianity — a monumental church complex and a luxurious bishop's palace, which are almost 1.7 thousand years old. This was reported by Arkeonews magazine on February 10.
Over the years, agricultural work in the area has preserved unique historical structures, including a church complex hidden underground. This allowed archaeological excavations to be carried out at this site. Thanks to the new discovery, scientists were able to reconstruct an almost intact early Christian structure.
The monumental church dates back to about 330 AD and is an important example of the architecture of that time. The construction of this complex may be related to the Bishop of Ostia's role as cardinal dean, who was also responsible for convening the conclave after the pope's death. This find is a prime example of how early Christian leaders used architecture to demonstrate their power.
One of the most amazing discoveries was the presence of a monumental hall called the "aula" in the bishop's palace. It was richly decorated with marble panels and mosaic floors. Unlike other buildings in Ostia, this hall was much larger and more luxurious.
Although other buildings in Ostia are also decorated with decorative elements, none of them can compare with this hall in scale and luxury. Professor Sabine Feist emphasized that this place is a unique example of early Christian self-expression through monumental architecture.
On February 3, Arkeonews reported the discovery of a Bronze Age tomb in the ancient trading center of Cyprus, Hala Sultan Tekke. It was clarified that the age of the find, preserved almost in its original form, is almost 3 thousand years old.
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