(ANSAmed) - ISTANBUL, FEBRUARY 6 - For nearly 2,000 years, an
ancient tradition said that the tomb of St. Philip, one of the
12 apostles, was located in the Turkish city of Hierapolis,
where he was martyred in 80 AD. But only recently did a group
of Italian archaeologists from Salento-Lecce University identify
the tomb with certainty beneath the remains of a 5th century
Byzantine sanctuary built to honour his burial place.
Speaking in the press conference in Istanbul, Professor
Francesco D'Andria from Salento-Lecce University spoke about how
the excavations in Hierapolis led to the identification of the
tomb last year on the site where it was located according to
tradition, but archaeology had not yet provided any
confirmation. The results of last year's excavations in
Hierapolis, a town in eastern Turkey, 250km from the Aegean
coast and Izmir, were explained by the professor during a
presentation of the Italian campaign of excavations in Turkey
organised by Italian Ambassador Gianpaolo Scarante.
"The discovery this year involves the tomb of Saint Philip, one
of Jesus' 12 apostles, who was supposedly martyred in
Hierapolis," summarised the professor of Classical Archaeology.
He added: "literary sources already stated in 190 AD that St.
Philip's tomb" was located in Hierapolis, and that "research and identification of this tomb was one of the objectives of the mission" he was leading. Initially work was focussed on an already-known church believed to be built over the tomb. "We also used geophysical systems to identify any possible cavities in the church, but they never yielded any results, so we looked at an area next to the church, and another element was found: a second church built around a first-century Roman tomb." "A series of elements allowed us to identify this church, which has one nave and two aisles", as the one "built around the Roman tomb which holds St. Philip according to tradition," said D'Andria, who underlined that "the new development this year" is "the new church built around the tomb". The discovery solved a mystery of archaeology. In the United States the Richmond Museum, the archaeologist said, has "a seal for the bread of the pilgrims" which depicts St. Philip: "On one side is the church that we found this year which Byzantine scholars have studied for many years", trying to understand what it depicted. Next to the tomb, the archaeologist reported, there are also basins to submerge oneself, confirming that this was a "sanctuary of healing" part of a "large pilgrimage complex that the Byzantines built in the fifth century AD around St. Philip's tomb" "similar to the sanctuary of Asclepius in Pergamon". The altar was also "identified" last year, "built over a crypt where St. Philip's bones were preserved". Another similarity was also identified: "it is similar to Ephesus, where beneath the altar is a chamber where the relics of St. John, another apostle who preached in Asia, were preserved". The excavations were conducted by an international mission composed of Italians (65 specialists from all over Italy worked in Hierapolis), as well as archaeologists from Germany, France and Norway. Starting back in the 1950s the Italian mission also uncovered the martyrion, or the church built over the site where the apostle was martyred. Italian scholars also restored the theatre, which can still hold 8,000 spectators: the restoration project is still ongoing, said D'Andria, showing a virtual reconstruction on display for the one and a half million tourists who visit Hierapolis each year ("whose numbers are growing"). In order to increase tourism, a temporary bridge is being built to climb to the top of the hill and restorations are being carried out, said D'Andria, who mentioned the gymnasium (a "marvellous marble Doric portico"). There was also a sort of acknowledgement given by the Orthodox church, which represents "an important element for the development of quality religious tourism", said the professor from the school for archaeological specialisation of Salento University. (ANSAmed).
Philip's tomb" was located in Hierapolis, and that "research and identification of this tomb was one of the objectives of the mission" he was leading. Initially work was focussed on an already-known church believed to be built over the tomb. "We also used geophysical systems to identify any possible cavities in the church, but they never yielded any results, so we looked at an area next to the church, and another element was found: a second church built around a first-century Roman tomb." "A series of elements allowed us to identify this church, which has one nave and two aisles", as the one "built around the Roman tomb which holds St. Philip according to tradition," said D'Andria, who underlined that "the new development this year" is "the new church built around the tomb". The discovery solved a mystery of archaeology. In the United States the Richmond Museum, the archaeologist said, has "a seal for the bread of the pilgrims" which depicts St. Philip: "On one side is the church that we found this year which Byzantine scholars have studied for many years", trying to understand what it depicted. Next to the tomb, the archaeologist reported, there are also basins to submerge oneself, confirming that this was a "sanctuary of healing" part of a "large pilgrimage complex that the Byzantines built in the fifth century AD around St. Philip's tomb" "similar to the sanctuary of Asclepius in Pergamon". The altar was also "identified" last year, "built over a crypt where St. Philip's bones were preserved". Another similarity was also identified: "it is similar to Ephesus, where beneath the altar is a chamber where the relics of St. John, another apostle who preached in Asia, were preserved". The excavations were conducted by an international mission composed of Italians (65 specialists from all over Italy worked in Hierapolis), as well as archaeologists from Germany, France and Norway. Starting back in the 1950s the Italian mission also uncovered the martyrion, or the church built over the site where the apostle was martyred. Italian scholars also restored the theatre, which can still hold 8,000 spectators: the restoration project is still ongoing, said D'Andria, showing a virtual reconstruction on display for the one and a half million tourists who visit Hierapolis each year ("whose numbers are growing"). In order to increase tourism, a temporary bridge is being built to climb to the top of the hill and restorations are being carried out, said D'Andria, who mentioned the gymnasium (a "marvellous marble Doric portico"). There was also a sort of acknowledgement given by the Orthodox church, which represents "an important element for the development of quality religious tourism", said the professor from the school for archaeological specialisation of Salento University. (ANSAmed).
