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©The Archaeological Settlements of Turkey - TAY Project
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Euphemia Kilisesi / Antiokhos Sarayi |
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For site maps and drawings please click on the picture...  |
For photographs please click on the photo...  |
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Type:
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Palace and Church |
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Plan Type:
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Polygonal |
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Year of Costruction:
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5th c. |
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Phase:
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Early Middle Late |
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Investigation Method:
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Excavation |
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Altitude:
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40 |
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Region:
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Marmara |
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Province:
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Istanbul |
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District:
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Fatih |
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Village:
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Binbirdirek Mah. |
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Antique Name:
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Constantinople |
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| Location: It lies to the northwest of the Hippodrome on the Sultanahmet Square in the Eminönü District of Istanbul. It is situated 70 m south of Divanyolu at the parking area of the modern Court House. It is accessible from the parking entrance to the south of the Court House. |
| Geography and Environment: It was located at the most significant region of the capital during the Byzantine Period. It lies between the first hill, the acropolis of the ancient city of Byzantium, and the second hill to its west. To the east stood the largest public area of the city of Constantinople, the Hippodrome. And, to the west of the Hippodrome, a few hundred meters to the Church of St. Euphemia was the Imperial Palace. To the northeast of the church stood the renown Augustaion Square, and to the east of the square was the Senate House, and to the north stood the Church of St. Sophia, the cathedral church of the city and the Partriarchal Palace adjacent to it. The Divanyolu Street stretching to the north of the church was the starting point of the Mese, the main street of the city during the Byzantine Period. This road was also on the route of the pilgrims visiting St. Sophia. Today the environs of Sultanahmet is the most crowded and popular touristic site of the city, however the Church of St. Euphemia is not open for visits. |
| Research and Excavation: The ruins of the Church of St. Euphemia were exposed to light when the prison here was demolished, and subsequently an excavation was conducted in 1942 by A.M. Schneider [Schneider 1943a]. The excavations were halted upon death of Schneider. When construction of the modern Court House of Sultanahmet was initiated, a salvage excavation was carried out by the Archaeological Museums of Istanbul in 1952 and 1953 [Duyuran 1952, 1953]. In 1964, a joint excavation was conducted by the Archaeological Museums of Istanbul and the German Archaeological Institute in the region [Dolunay-Naumann 1964a, 1964b]. P. Naumann and H. Belting made a publication in 1966 on the Church of St. Euphemia [Naumann-Belting 1966]. |
| Description: Building Phases: It was built as the reception hall (triclinium) of the Palace of Antiochos during the 5th century. And, it was converted into a church in the early 6th century [Naumann-Belting 1966:25]. During this conversion, the main structure remained unchanged, but some arrangements were made in accordance with the liturgy of the Church: a new entrance was added to the west; the east niche was converted into an apse, adding a synthronon; a templon separating the bema was constructed; and a solea and an ambo were added [Mathews 1971:65]. In the 7th century, the relics of Euphemia at the church in Khalkedon were transferred to this church so that it became one of the most important attraction centers for pilgrims. Although it suffered from several attacks, it survived through the Iconoclastic Period and the Latin invasion. Undergoing several repairworks during the Middle Age, it collapsed probably in the 16th century, and disappeared gradually as a result of development in the following centuries. It was exposed to light in 1939 when the prison on the very spot of it was demolished [Schneider 1943a; Müller-Wiener 2001:125]. The fresco decoration on the western wall of the church is from the end of the 12th century [Naumann-Belting 1966:170-171]. Architectural Features: It is hexagonal in plan, each edge being comprised by a large semicircular niche. It is known to have been surmounted by a large dome. The original entrance is from the southwest, however the one to the west became the main entrance when it was converted into a church. The joints of the niches are each topped by a secondary entrance from the outside, having a doorhood with void sides and a rounded plan. It was built by a technique using alternating courses of cutstones and bricks. There is enough data to allow restitution of the building [Yazicioglu 1987:8-17; Mathews 1976:123-124, pics. 12.1-12.7]. Decorative Features: The fresco decorations mainly from the end of the 13th century survived to the present day only on the western niche. A fresco cycle consisting of 14 scenes depict the life story and martyrdom of Saint Euphemia, which is unique in terms of monumental painting [Akyürek 2002:45-61]. In addition to that, it is known that there were depictions of Forty Martyrs of Sebasteia and some other scenes on the southwest as well as paintings of bishops in an arcosolium on the south, however they all disappeared [Naumann-Belting 1966]. |
| Finds: Architectural Plastics: The excavations yielded columns of the templon in colored marbles and inlayed glass [Naumann-Belting 1966]. They have been exhibited at the Archaeological Museums of Istanbul. Also standing at site are the monoblock stone of the cyborium, fragments of richly decorated cornices, imposts and capitals. Although most of the architectural plastic elements are dated to the 6th century, some fragments from the Middle Byzantine Period are from the repairworks during the Middle Age [Naumann-Belting 1966]. At present many architectural sculptures are observed around the building [TAYEx 03.09.2008]. Pottery: Potsherds from various Byzantine periods were uncovered [Naumann-Belting 1966]. Handicrafts: The fragment of a marble icon from the Middle Byzantine Period, probably of the Saint Euphemia, has been exhibited at the Archaeological Museums of Istanbul [Naumann-Belting 1966:86-87]. Graves: Four grave chambers with a centralized plan communicating with the eastern, western and northern appendices were uncovered. They were dated to the Middle and Late Byzantine Periods [Naumann-Belting 1966] Those grave chambers do not exist anymore. |
| Interpretation: The date for conversion to a church is controversial. Based on the overall architectural plastic elements, some suggest the 6th century [Naumann-Belting 1966:25; Mathews 1971:66-67; Müller-Wiener 2001:122], while some other scientists date it back to the 7th century [Grabar 1967; Berger 1988b]. |
| Destruction: |
