Nicaea

Nicaea is an ancient city in Bithynia, located in northwestern Anatolia on the eastern shore of Lake Iznik, in present-day Iznik, Bursa Province, Turkey. It developed as a major urban center during the Hellenistic and Roman periods and served at times as the capital of the region of Bithynia.

In 325 CE, Constantine the Great convened the First Council of Nicaea there, a foundational event in early Christian history. The council produced the Nicene Creed, which articulated core Christian beliefs about the nature of the relationship between the Father and the Son and opposed the Arian interpretation. The creed was later revised at the First Council of Constantinople in 381.

Following late antiquity, Nicaea remained an important Byzantine frontier city guarding the eastern approaches of the empire. It was eventually captured by the Ottoman Turks in 1331 and renamed Iznik. In the Ottoman period, the town became renowned for its Iznik pottery, including distinctive ceramics and tiles that achieved wide influence.

Today, Iznik is a district of Bursa Province in modern Turkey. The site preserves ancient ruins and fortifications, reflecting its historical role as a religious and military center. The town remains associated with its long-standing ceramic tradition and is notable for its archaeological interest within the region.