In Türkiye, archaeologists uncovered an ancient Roman tomb that was repurposed centuries later.
While excavating a basilica in the ancient city of Ephesus in western Türkiye, archaeologists made an incredible find: the sarcophagus of a Roman gladiator. But that wasn’t the only thing they discovered.
The sarcophagus, which was uncovered during an excavation sponsored by Türkiye’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism, dated back to the third century C.E. It had an inscription on the outside that archaeologists believe bears the gladiator’s name, “Euphrates,” as well as a number of other inscriptions and reliefs of crosses, which were added later.
The striking mosaic floor discovered beneath the sarcophagus.
The most remarkable thing about the discovery, however, was that the sarcophagus had been reused. Some 200 years after “Euphrates” was laid to rest, 12 more people were buried inside.
Archaeologists believe that the original sarcophagus belonged to the Roman gladiator and that it was repurposed as Christianity spread in Europe.