Rock-cut architecture of Byzantine period in the Highlands of Phrygia

The subject of the thesis is identify the Byzantine Era rock-cut churches which are situated in Highlands of Phrygia, around Kütahya, Afyonkarahisar and Eskişehir, with their plan types, functions and decorative features, and evaluate them in terms of art history. Phrygians carved temples, altars and tombs to the rock, especially in the area called the Highlands of Phrygia. Rock-cut construction tradition of the territory has continued without interruption during the Hellenistic, Roman and Byzantine periods. There are examples of rock architecture to address the needs of all kinds of everyday life especially from the Byzantine times and foremost among them are the rock-cut churches. The rock-cut churches of Highlands of Phrygia includes major types of Byzantine church architecture: Aisleless, two naves, three naves (basilica), Greek-cross and Cross-in-square. Some churches are decorated with scrapings and paintings which includes various motifs, figures and inscriptions. This study aimed to detection of rock-cut churches in the territory and determination of plan types by documentation study. Another aim of this study, reveal the place of this churches in the byzantine architecture and their interaction with similar structures by comparing those detected and classified churches to similar structures in Anatolia. Keywords: Eskişehir, Afyonkarahisar, Kütahya, Church, Phrygia, Byzantine.