Excavations in Laodicea have uncovered a 2,050-year-old hall containing Christian symbols, confirming the existence of an early Christian community in the ancient city.
In the southwestern Turkish province of Denizli, archaeologists have unearthed a Roman assembly hall, approximately 2,050 years old, that contains early Christian symbols. Among the finds were a cross and a Chi-Rho monogram, which are the first two letters of the Greek word for “Christ.”
The hall, known as a bouleuterion, was used for political and judicial gatherings and could seat around 800 people. On the preserved seating, archaeologists could see inscriptions with the names of council members, elders, and ordinary citizens. A headless statue of Emperor Trajan was also found near the ruins.
Researchers believe the Christian symbols were added later, about a century after the hall was built, which suggests the gradual influence of Christianity in Laodicea despite persecution by Roman authorities.
Laodicea is mentioned in the Book of Revelation, where Jesus refers to seven early Christian communities, including the city. It is also mentioned in the Epistle to the Colossians. Historians believe that early Christianity may have developed here under the influence of Epaphras, a disciple of the Apostle Paul.
The discovery of Christian symbols in an administrative building of an ancient Roman city opens up new avenues for studying the early history of Christianity in Anatolia and the interaction between the religion and Roman rule.
