Cappadocia is an area of beautifully eroded and carved sedimentary rock. Naturally eroded pillars mark the landscape. Some of these rock spires were used by Byzantine Christians to create cities and monasteries. There are several narrow valleys of intricately carved rock houses. Stacked on top of each other in the cliffs, these houses are a blast to explore.
"Fairy Chimneys"
This area became a center for monasteries during the reign of Theodosius I, who began a policy of anti-paganism and made Christianity the official Byzantine religion.
A beautiful church in the monastic center of Göreme. These carved habitations were formed by Christians, so there are many ancient churches.
The pillars are created because erosion of the softer rock below is minimized by the harder rock above.
In Cappadocia there are 36 different underground cities. Many of these were initially excavated during Hittite times, and slowly enlarged over many centuries. We visited two of these cities. One called Derinkuyu and the other Kaymakli. The first one we visited is the largest of all the cities. Derinkuyu is approximately 60m deep and could hold during its occupation 20,000 people. These cities also held food and livestock for the people who inhabited them.
These cities were inhabited for the majority of their existence by Christians. During periods of different rule - like when Muslim kings grew to power, or when the Mongols invaded the area - these cities were used as hideouts for the Christians. Basically anything that was done above ground - minus agriculture - could be and was done in the cities.
The first city we visited was very touristic and packed with people exploring its many levels. The second was almost completely empty. We were basically the only people there.
This deep shaft provided air ventilation between the different levels of the underground city and the surface. Even with these shafts the air below must have been horrendous. With fires, metal works, livestock, and thousands of people, the air should have been thick.
Their are endless stair cases meticulously carved through narrow passages.
This stone has many depressions in its surface. Maybe for cold copper processing?
Here is an air shaft of the second city we went to. You can see it is not as perfectly carved as the previous air shaft.
When Javier and I came to this room, he started to go into the tunnel on the right. I - being a nervous person - told him not to go in. He of course ignored this. Within ten seconds he was coming out of the tunnel on the left. We couldn't contain our laughter.
This room is actually marked as being a "school".
