1. Location – Preservation

The gate survives in situ in the western part of the “West Church” (also known as the “Church of the Evangelists”) of the Alahan monastic complex in Isauria, having been the central entrance from the narthex to the nave. It is made of stone, as is the rest of the building and it consists of a lintel (0,50 m. high, 3 m. wide and 0,40 m. thick) and two pilasters (visible height 3,25 m., 0,50 m. wide and 0,40 m. thick). Despite the damage it has suffered with the passing of the centuries, as it was never covered by earth, its relief decoration is preserved in good condition. The four low relief portraits on the edges of the lintel and on the pilasters, as well as the figure of the archangel Gabriel on the interior surface of the northern pilaster have been the mostly damaged.

2. Description of the decoration

2.1. Floral and geometric themes

The gate bears decoration on all sides except the eastern one. Six bands of variable wide and with different ornaments run along the western surface: on the lintel, from out to the center, the first two bands bear continuous bay and acanthus leaves within round panels; a wider, non-decorated band, one with a trefoil motif, one with bay leaves joined together in pairs so as to form angles, and one last band of astragals. The same bands with the same themes continue vetically on the pilasters; however, here the non-decorated band of the lintel is adorned by continuous rinceaux.

2.2. The vision of Ezekiel

The abovementioned motifs frame the scene of the apocalyptic vision of Ezekiel, which extends on the western side and the interior surface of the lintel.¹ A bust of Christ, frontal, is depicted in a medallion in the center of the western side; Christ's his long hair fall symmetrically onto his shoulders. The medallion is supported on either side by two flying angels, their bodies parallel to the ground.

The representation continues in the centre of the lintel’s interior surface with the depiction of the four symbols of the Evangelists on two levels: the lower level is taken up by the winged ox on the right, the eagle in the centre and the winged lion on the left, turned three-quarters towards the centre of the scene, while the upper level is taken up by the frontal angel, whο covers the three animals with his spread wings. Two trees with large heart-shaped leaves flank the tetramorph. A male figure wearing a long chiton and himation stands at a short distance from each tree; the figure on the left holds a codex and is identified as the prophet Ezekiel, while the figure on the right holds a scroll and is identified as the prophet Isaiah.

2.3. The archangels Michael and Gabriel

Archangel Michael is preserved in a better condition of the two archangels Michael and Gabriel represented on the inner surface of the south and north pilasters respectively. Both have been placed beneath shallow foiled niches supported by capitals of acanthus leaves; on each one stands a bird, possibly a partridge, turned three-quarters to the east.

The two archangels are frontally depicted standing full length, with their large wings spread behind their backs. Their military tunics are knee-long and folds are carved only on their lower part. The details on the upper part of the tunics and the wings have been probably painted and have thus not survived.

The archangels hold in their right hands orbs of the world, and in their left hands staffs, diagonally against their bodies. Two female portraits facing three-quarters to the east wearing the common Phrygian hats are depicted under the feet of each archangel; they represent Christ’s enemies defeated by the archangels in this symbolic representation of the victory of the Church over paganism.

2.4. Busts

The decoration of the gate is complete with the busts of four male figures, two at the edges of the western surface of the lintel and two lower down on the pilasters. Their facial characteristics have suffered extensive damage because of their position and their constant exposure to the weather. Only the bust on the right-hand edge of the lintel used to survive in better condition; it has been described as depicting a bearded man with long hair which falling symmetrically onto his face. The existence of these male bust in connection with the presence of the tetramorph on the lower section of the gate’s lintel led to the conclusion that the church was dedicated to the four Evangelists.²

3. Stylistic remarks

The differences in the rendering of the garments of the figures on the lintel and of those on the pilasters have been noticed already during the first year of excavations in the church, in 1955. For example, the garments of the prophets Ezekiel and Isaiah, which survive in better condition being protected on the interior surface of the lintel, form large surfaces over the legs and let the figure show with such a plasticity that suggests the intense influence of Hellenistic art. On the contrary, and despite the extensive damage they have suffered, the archangels on the pilasters clearly demonstrate the decline of the Hellenistic tradition: their clothing is characteristically un-plastic and antinaturalistic, while the violent detachment of the figures from the background reveals the sculptor’s interest in their simple, two-dimensional rendering.

The disregard for correct articulation and rendering of the space is also shown by the fact that the capitals of the niches stand alone, without their columns, thus giving the impression that they hover, as they are not supported by any architectural element. Moreover, the acanthus leaves adorning them appear stylisized and unnaturalistic, as do the ornaments on the gate’s western surface.

Such differences noted in the stylistic approach of the decorative motifs, must be considered as the result of the work of more than one sculptor rather than as the result of more than one phases of gate's decoration at different periods.

4. Chronology