IZNIK, the sunken enigma
FRANCE , 2023, 83’37’’
Direction: Pascal Guérin – Production: Les Batelières Productions
Following the fortuitous discovery in 2014 by a Turkish archaeologist of the foundations of a Byzantine basilica sunk in Lake Iznik, not far from Istanbul, an international team of researchers composed of French, Turks, Swiss and Americans is investigating to try to retrace the history of this mysterious basilica. Why is it underwater? What tragic story is hidden at the very bottom of this lake? What could the excavations of such a building reveal? Because if these vestiges arouse the passionate and enthusiastic interest, there is a reason: its localization, Iznik, current Turkish name of the ancient Roman city of Nicea, or rather in Latin, “Nicaea”. It brings us back to the fourth century of our era, in the arcane of the construction of Christianity. Thus, in a series of causalities, like drawers that are opened one after the other, researchers and historians reveal the secrets of this lost world.
