John T. Noble

The Underwater Basilica of Nicaea

History & Biography

“This volume represents the culmination of Mark Fairchild's two decades of field work in Turkey exploring sites of value for Christian origins. Here he draws on collaboration experience with archaeologist Mustafa Şahin, adding a chorus of voices from primary and secondary sources to comment authoritatively on the recently discovered underwater basilica of Nicaea. Calculating from available data, the author determines that the basilica likely was constructed as a martyrion in the fourth century following the liberating Edict of Milan and entertains the question of the significance of the site for the first and most famous ecumenical council that took place in this corner of the ancient Mediterranean world.”