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©The Archaeological Settlements of Turkey - TAY Project
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Topkapi Sarayi Bazilikasi |
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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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Church |
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Plan Type:
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Basilica |
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Year of Costruction:
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Second half of 5th c. |
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Phase:
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Early |
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Investigation Method:
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Excavation |
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Altitude:
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50 |
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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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Cankurtaran Mah. |
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Antique Name:
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Constantinople |
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| Location: It is located in front of the Akagalar Gate in the courtyard of the Topkapi Palace, which is a museum at present in the Fatih District of Istanbul. It is not a notable sight now as it was covered following the excavation. |
| Geography and Environment: It is at the summit of the Byzantine acropolis. Although some archaeological finds were obtained suggesting that the church might have been part of a group of buildings during the Byzantine Period, we do not have much data on the construction plan of the area in that period. |
| Research and Excavation: It was uncovered during the excavations under the leadership of A. Ogan and A.M. Mansel, conducted by the History Foundation of Turkey in 1937. Primarily a small Byzantine structure was found during the excavations, and when the area of excavation was enlarged towards the Akagalar Gate, a basilica of 35x20 m was uncovered. However, the excavations were limited in order to not to interfere with the visits to the museum so that the related area was not studied efficiently [Ogan 1940:317-335; Bittel 1939:179-182; Bossert 1940:206-232]. |
| Description: Building Phases: It is dated to the mid-5th century. The sanctuary underwent several enlargement activities around the 10th or 11th century using ceramic plates glazed in different colors. It might have been used as a mosque for a while following the conquest. Probably it was brought down during the construction of the Topkapi Palace [Müller-Wiener 2001:74]. Architectural Features: It is a basilica with three naves divided by two colonnades, each consisting of six columns [Ogan 1940: pl. LXXXIII]. It has a narthex with a main entrance from the north, and an atrium. The atrium is slightly off to the north compared to the central axis of the church. The apse is circular on the inside and triangular on the outside. It is dated to the early 5th century because of similarity with the basilicas of Stoudios and Chalcoprateia in Istanbul. It is suggested that it had a curb roof made of wood as it was in the other two basilicas [Ogan 1940:321-322; Tezcan 1989:62-64; Mathews 1971:37; Müller-Wiener 2001:74-75, pics. 54-55]. |
| Finds: Architectural Plastics: Rich architectural elements and pottery were found in the building and its vicinity during the excavations. Among them are a fragment of a parapet plate with fretwork, fragments of an arch decorated in marbles, and a marble stele [Ogan 1940: pl. LXXIV, LXXVII, 7a, 10]. They are currently preserved in the Archaeological Museums of Istanbul. Wall Tiles: Many wall tiles dating from the 9th to the 11th centuries were found [Ogan 1940:322-323, pl. LXXVIII-LXXXI; Ettinghausen 1954:87]. Coins: Many coins dating from the 10th century were found [Ogan 1940:324-328; Ettinghausen 1954:87]. |
| Interpretation: There are some unidentified parts due to incomplete excavations. The connection between the apse and the naos walls has not been completely identified, and thus it is suggested that it might have been basilica with transept [Bittel 1939:79]. On the other hand, according to Matthews, the apse is pentagonal on the outside [Mathews 1971:37]. |
| Destruction: Topkapi Palace's Akagalar Gate is at the location of the basilicum at present. No remains survived to date[TAYEx 09.09.2008]. |
