Archaeologists excavating the ancient city of Pompeiopolis (Greek: Πομπηιούπολις) in modern-day Turkey have uncovered a well-preserved fourth-century Roman mosaic floor and the head of Eros, the Greek god of love, dating to about two centuries earlier.
The mosaic covers about 105 square meters, or roughly 1,130 square feet. Archaeologists found it in the central nave of a monumental basilica in Taşköprü, a district of Kastamonu province. Turkey’s Culture and Tourism Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy announced the discoveries on Sept. 7 as part of the 2026 excavation season.
Fourth-century mosaic covers basilica floor
The mosaic features a series of geometric designs. Archaeologists have not yet exposed the entire pavement, suggesting the decorated floor extends beyond the area currently visible.
“We uncovered approximately 105 square meters of well-preserved floor mosaics dating to the fourth century A.D. and made up of geometric compositions,” Ersoy said.
The discovery adds to a growing collection of ancient mosaic finds in Turkey. Archaeologists have also uncovered a Roman mosaic and cistern at the ancient city of Syedra, while a more recent excavation at Aspendos revealed a rare Roman-era mosaic depicting the Greek river god Eurymedon.
The basilica dates back to the Roman Imperial period
Excavations at the basilica began in 2025. Researchers are studying its architecture, excavation layers, and artifacts to understand how the building developed from the Roman Imperial period into Late Antiquity. Evidence indicates its earliest construction phase dates to around A.D. 150 to 160.
Kastamonu’nun Taşköprü ilçesindeki Pompeiopolis Antik Kenti’nde, Roma İmparatorluk Dönemi’nden Geç Antik Çağ’a uzanan yeni izleri gün yüzüne çıkarıyoruz.
M.S. 4. yüzyıla tarihlenen, geometrik kompozisyonlardan oluşan ve oldukça iyi korunmuş yaklaşık 105 metrekarelik zemin… pic.twitter.com/wUxVzWbHqw
— Mehmet Nuri Ersoy (@MehmetNuriErsoy) September 7, 2026
The structure later underwent major changes in its design and use. The fourth-century mosaic belongs to one of these later phases. Conservators have completed preservation work on the exposed sections while excavations continue.
Head of Greek god Eros uncovered
Archaeologists made another significant discovery in the basilica’s Pastophorion, an auxiliary area of the building. They uncovered the head of Eros, the ancient Greek god of love and desire.
Researchers dated the sculpture to the second half of the second century A.D., roughly the same period as the basilica’s earliest construction phase.
Eros has appeared in other archaeological discoveries in modern Turkey. Excavations at the ancient city of Teos, for example, uncovered a mosaic depicting two fighting cupids associated with Eros.
Pompeiopolis changed with the rise of Christianity
Pompeiopolis was an important center in Paphlagonia, an ancient region along the Black Sea in what is now northern Turkey. Other archaeological sites in ancient Paphlagonia have also produced significant mosaics and Greek inscriptions, including Hadrianopolis, sometimes called the “Zeugma of the Black Sea.”
By the fifth century A.D., Pompeiopolis had become an episcopal center and served as the seat of a bishop. Archaeologists have linked the basilica’s later architectural changes, decorations, and mosaic floors to the Christianization of the city.
Similar archaeological evidence elsewhere in the Mediterranean has helped researchers understand how ancient cities changed as Christianity spread. Recent excavations at Akragas in Sicily revealed mosaics and early Christian remains documenting centuries of religious and urban change.
The finds at Pompeiopolis are helping researchers trace the city’s development from its Roman Imperial past to its later role as a Christian center. Ersoy said excavation, documentation, and conservation work will continue. Researchers plan to uncover more of the mosaic pavement and establish a clearer picture of the basilica’s architectural plan and its different phases of use.
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