Recent Archaeological Finds

Turkish archaeologists believe they've found the tomb of St Phillip in a previously unknown church at Hierapolis, modern Pamukkale (here) The tomb is not the structure decorated with a Star of David, the Byzantine structure which was his octagonal martyrium. The new tomb is some 40 m away (see the nice bog arrow I've drawn on the map, where I think it is). Phillip was one of several Apostles killed by crucifixion.

Apostle Philips tomb found in Turkey - Jerusalem Post

The Armenians have decided that Dikranagerd, the capital of ancient Armenia founded in the 1st century BC by Tigranes the Great (known in the west as Tigranocerta) was not at Silvan in Turkey but in Artsakh in modern Armenia. The finds are not clarified, but I assume this is an altar in the photo.

Excavations in Artsakh Shed Light on Ancient City of Dikranagerd - Armenian Weekly

A 12th or 13th century chess piece was found at Siglunes by Siglufjordur in Iceland, brought by the first settlers.

Twelfth Century Chess Piece Discovered - Iceland Review

There have been comparisons drawn to the Lewis Chessmen, possibly made in Norway and found on the Isle of Skye.

For some reason the Greeks, rather than diving some interesting wrecks are investigating the Mentor, a ship which sank whilst bringing some of the Elgin Marbles to London. I sounds like a PR campaign to me.

The excavators of a church at Laodicea believe this mosaic depicts the Eye of God. I know of nothing else like it, but there was the Eye of Horus in Egyptian art, and later the Evil Eye, so it's not altogether surprising.

I guess it's ironic that the letter to the Laodiceans in Revelation 3:17-18 reads:

Because you say, 'I am rich, and have gotten riches, and have need of nothing;' and don't know that you are the wretched one, miserable, poor, blind, and naked; I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, that you may become rich; and white garments, that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your eyes, that you may see.