Ancient Book of Revelation city gives up stunning secret buried for 1,500 years

The artwork was uncovered in the ancient city of Smyrna, an archaeological site in modern-day İzmir, Turkey, according to Turkish state news outlet Anadolu Agency (AA).

Smyrna - along with Ephesus, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea - is one of the seven churches of Asia Minor addressed by Jesus in the Book of Revelation.

Photos show archaeologists brushing away centuries of dirt to reveal the remarkably preserved 1,500-year-old mosaic and its geometric and floral motifs.

Excavation director Akın Ersoy said the mosaic was first found last year, but archaeologists did not fully excavate the artwork until this year, according to AA.

"In connection with this, we also found traces of the walls that defined the space," said Ersoy.

The most striking motif is the heart-shaped ivy leaf, which is made of red tesserae, or mosaic tiles.

Though modern people see the heart as a symbol of love, Ersoy said the mosaic was created long before the symbol came to represent romance.

Rather, Ersoy said the heart-shaped ivy leaf was intended to symbolize loyalty.

"The ivy leaf clings to trees and walls," he said. "It came to symbolize loyalty and has been used from antiquity through the centuries."

"We can say that the people of that period consciously protected it because there is very little damage," the archaeologist said.

"The space was brought back to life after 1,500 years."

The latest discovery is one of several recent archaeological finds in cities mentioned in the Book of Revelation.