Iznik the secrets of the Sunken Basilica

In Turkey’s Lake Iznik, the remains of a basilica submerged for centuries have mysteriously resurfaced. Described by the U.S. Archaeological Institute as one of the 10 greatest archaeological discoveries of recent years, this sunken treasure trove is about to become the focus of a major scientific and historical investigation. Around the French geologist Julia de Sigoyer and the Turkish archaeologist Mustafa Sahin, a dozen international researchers and historians will conduct a fascinating double investigation, to find out whether this mysterious basilica was the site of one of the founding events of Christianity, the 1st Council of Nicea, and to try to uncover the causes of the basilica’s destruction. Alongside them, we plunge into a tumultuous history, shaped by the convulsions of the Earth and the revolutionary vision of the first Christian emperor, Constantine, who put his stamp on one of the greatest political and religious transformations mankind has ever known.

Updated on 8 December 2023