Alakent Church

The existence of this small Byzantine church in Alakent near Demre has been known to archaeologists and art historians for some time. However, it was only possible to unearth the structure from beneath the five-meter-deep alluvial fill in which it was buried as a result of the Myra-Andriake excavation work carried out in 2010. Thanks to the alluvial fill, many elements of the structure, such as wall paintings, roof tiles, and facade decorations, remained intact.

The presence of this small Byzantine church in the Alakent neighborhood of Demre has been known to archaeologists and art historians for quite some time. Revealing the structure from under the five meter deep alluvial fill in which it was buried was only possible as a result of the excavation work carried out in 2010 as part of the Myra–Andriake Excavations. The alluvial fill kept most of the aspects of the building such as mural paintings, roof tiles, facade decorations and spolia intact.

The book was edited by the GABAM’s director and member of Koç University Archaeology and Art History Department, Engin Akyürek. The chapters of book are “The Story of the Excavation” by Nevzat Çevik, the director of the Myra–Andriake Excavations, “Myra: The Metropolis of Lycia”, “Alakent Church: Location And Architecture” and “Conclusion” by Engin Akyürek, “Architectural Sculpture” by Ayça Tiryaki, “Wall Paintings” by Nilay Çorağan, “Ceramic Finds” and “Burials” by Özgü Çömezoğlu Uzbek, “Inscriptions” by Hüseyin Sami Öztürk and Christof Schuler, “Conservation Treatments” by Sebahattin Küçük.