In 1963, a man in Turkey’s Cappadocia region noticed that his chickens disappear through a crack in his basement. To investigate this mysterious disappearance, he broke through the wall and discovered something amazing.
He discovered a 1000-year-old underground city of Derinkuyu built by Christians as early as the 8th Century AD to avoid and hide from Invaders.
The story and history behind this ancient city are not only awe-inspiring but also show the resilience of the ancient Christians in the region.
Let’s get deep into exploring this city and its history.
Christianity has ancient roots in Cappadocia, with Paul the Apostle establishing one of the earliest Christian communities there in the 1st century. By the 4th century, the region’s bishops were influential in the Byzantine Empire. However, Christians faced severe persecution from Romans, Persians, and later, invading Muslim forces, leading them to convene in secret in this remote landscape.
Close to these historical cave churches lies Derinkuyu, an underground marvel. Unlike the simpler cave structures, Derinkuyu is a sprawling 18-story labyrinth, plunging 280 feet beneath the surface.
It is believed to have been primarily constructed in the 8th century and used up until the 12th century during the Arab–Byzantine wars. However, it may have older origins, dating back between 2000 BC and 100 AD when early Christians might have first needed such hideouts.
Xenophon of Athens noted that Anatolia’s people lived underground in the 4th century BC. Christians later expanded these subterranean spaces, creating a haven where they could survive crises for months.
The city’s upper levels were for living, while the lower ones were designed for storage. Excavations have revealed grain storage rooms, stables, taverns, schools, and even a winery, where grapes were dropped from a vineyard above through ceiling holes.
Every detail of Derinkuyu was meticulously planned for defense. At the surface, entrances could be sealed with massive, circular stones rolled into place from the inside.
These secure doorways continued across each level, preventing invaders from storming in large numbers. Inhabitants breathed through a complex system of some 15,000 air ducts that also doubled as water wells fed by underground rivers, ensuring their water supply remained uncontaminated by surface enemies.
A hidden population could vanish into Derinkuyu with their livestock and grain, descending one by one through narrow walkways designed to hinder any invaders.
Astonishingly, this underground city connects to another, larger city called Kaymakli via a five-mile tunnel. Derinkuyu itself stretches for miles below ground, with estimates of around 200 such cities connected beneath the Anatolian Plains.
These underground habitats, driven by necessity, catered to much more than mere survival. Derinkuyu boasts a cruciform chapel as large as a basketball court on the 7th level, where stone was hand-carved and transported to the surface by faithful inhabitants.
The discovery of Derinkuyu and other similar underground cities offers an incredible glimpse into human resilience and resourcefulness. Excavations continue to reveal new facets of these hidden worlds, like the city of Matiate, which might have sheltered up to 70,000 Christians and dug deeper than 330 feet.
There is so much yet to uncover, but what we know paints a vivid picture of a society’s determination to preserve its culture and faith against significant adversities.