Archaeologists recently uncovered a mysterious 1,600-year-old warning inscribed at the entrance of an ancient Christian church in Olympus, an abandoned city located in Turkey.
According to Fox News, Anadolu Agency, a state-run news agency in Turkey, confirmed that the discovery was made during a recent excavation at Olympus, which is located in the country’s Antalya province. The outlet noted that while continued excavations have taken place in Olympus since 2006, a recent excavation operation resulted in archaeologists discovering multiple mosaic floors in the abandoned city.
Excavator Gokcen Kurtulus Oztaskin, a professor at Pamukkale University, told Anadolu Agency that Olympus “continues to surprise” archaeologists.
“We discovered beautifully decorated mosaic floors in both the main hall and annex of the church,” Oztaskin stated. “Most notably, a mosaic inscription was found directly in front of the entrance, with the phrase: ‘Only those on the right path may enter.'”
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The excavator and professor added that archaeologists discovered “richly decorated mosaic floors” at the Olympus excavation in 2017, 2022, and 2023 before uncovering and restoring the “floor mosaics of Church No. 1.”
Pictures of the recent archaeological discovery have been shared on X, formerly Twitter.
According to Fox News, the mosaics recently discovered by archaeologists also featured the names of various benefactors as well as vegetable motifs. Fox News reported that the warning inscribed on the mosaic found at the entrance to the church in Olympus has not been seen since the city was abandoned by the 12th century.
Fox News reported that Olympus features Roman, Byzantine, and Hellenistic architecture, as the city was inhabited for several centuries before it was abandoned by the 12th century. The outlet noted that notable discoveries at Olympus have included the Lycian Marcus Aurelius Archepolis Monumental Tomb, the Bishop’s Palace, and the Antimakhos sarcophagus. Other archaeological discoveries at Olympus have included a bridge, a city entrance complex, and multiple church buildings.
Looking toward future archaeological excavations at Olympus, Oztaskin said, “At the end of last season, we identified ashlar masonry walls that suggest the presence of a monumental temple. Based on its layout and construction technique, this area will be a major focus of our 2025 excavation program.”
