Citation
Page reference: Christopher Ratté and Peter D. De Staebler (eds.). Aphrodisias V. The Aphrodisias Regional Survey (Verlag Philipp von Zabern: Darmstadt/Mainz, 2012), 390, 391 - Book catalogue no.: Churches cat. 14. <http://hdl.handle.net/2027.42/92556>
Description
Local Name: Yukarı Görle
Local Informant: Osman Alaca
Dimensions: Front Opening: approx. 1.0m by 1.5m ** Door of Antechamber: approx. 1.0m by 0.75m ** Chamber: W: approx. 2.0m, D: approx. 2.5m, pres. H: approx. 2.0m
Description: An extensive Hellenistic or Early Roman necropolis peppers the base of the cliffs north of the village, and one of the tombs to the northeast was frescoed in the Middle Byzantine period, offering clear evidence that a Christian community continued to live here through the Middle Byzantine era. The tomb consists of an antechamber followed by a main chamber with two couches along the side walls. The best-preserved section of the fresco is in the southeast quarter of the main chamber and shows two frontal, haloed figures with individualized features. The larger figure is the Virgin Mary, identified by a painted inscription. The smaller figure is not identified but may perhaps be a martyr, since he holds a cross in his right hand in front of his chest. ** Because the frescoes survive in such fragmentary condition, it is not possible to date them definitively. The "primitive" style and the thick black outlines around the drapery that encloses blocks of color might indicate a ninth- or tenth-century date. According to the local inhabitants, several other tombs were painted in a similar fashion.