Turkey's Underworld

What Is Derinkuyu All About Derinkuyu's Underground City

Discovering An Underground City Beneath Cappadocia

Nestled in Turkey’s Cappadocia region is a city so enigmatic that it had been lost to history for centuries. And Derinkuyu, buried 18 stories beneath the surface, is as much of an archaeological feat as it is a tale of survival, adaptation, and the mysteries of a lost civilization.

This subterranean city, which was founded more than 3000 years ago, went undiscovered until 1963, when the owner of an apartment building attempted to extend his basement and accidentally uncovered an entire underground city. Derinkuyu remains among the most incredible examples of human ingenuity and perseverance.

The Unlikely Discovery

The finding of Derinkuyu is nearly as astonishing as the city. In 1963, a man in Derinkuyu, wanting to expand the space he had available, broke down a wall in his basement.

Derinkuyu is thought to have served as a refuge for the ancient inhabitants of the region in times of war, persecution, and invasion, as it offered protection from both the elements and enemy forces.

Situated in the central Anatolia region, the city is one of more than two hundred underground settlements that have been carved into the volcanic rock formations of Cappadocia. Nowhere else like this, in this size and depth, going 18 stories underground and several km long.

The Origins of Derinkuyu

Not much is known about the beginnings of Derinkuyu, with various civilizations believed to have played a part in building it.

The earliest known inhabitants of the area are thought to have been Phrygians, an Indo-European people who settled in the region in the 8th and 7th centuries BCE.

It was the Phrygians who are said to have chiseled out the soft volcanic rock into intricate underground homes.

But the city was not confined to the Phrygians. However, evidence suggests that it was also developed after the Hittites in the 15th century BC. The Hittites are thought to have constructed Derinkuyu as a fortress to defend themselves from invaders. Also, rolling stone doors likely used to seal off entrances to the city are further indications of it being a place for refuge during times of war.

During the Byzantine Empire, from 780 to 1180, Derinkuyu was again used as a hiding place. This time, it gave shelter to Christian residents escaping from the Arab invasions. Or that the underground tunnels and chambers kept being expanded upon, protecting generations upon generations through time?

The Engineering Masterpieces of Derinkuyu

One of the most astonishing features of Derinkuyu is how sheerly brilliant the engineering of such a construction is. To survive in the lower parts of the city for long periods, fresh air was needed, and these wells were the solution.

The premise was essentially a city, built to shelter thousands of people, with an entire infrastructure of ventilation, storage, and fortifications. The most well-known of these is a ventilation system, consisting of more than 15,000 wells, some only 10 centimeters wide.

To survive in the lower parts of the city for long periods, fresh air was needed, and these wells were the solution.

Looks-The city was also multi-story, with something going on at each level. The upper stories were mainly home and where inhabitants may go to enjoy life.

The lower levels, in contrast, were used for storage, preservation of food, and, in some instances, as a prison. Perhaps the most fascinating of the spaces is the Temple of the Crucifixion, at the seventh level. It is a testament to the spiritual practices of the city's inhabitants, who sought solace and guidance amid adversity.

The Strategic Location of Derinkuyu

Protecting from the outside world was not just a matter of survival for Derinkuyu but adaptation, too. The region's extreme climate bitterly cold winters and sweltering summers rendered life exposed to the elements difficult.

The underground degree was very stable, which adapted the condition of the underground as a shelter.

Furthermore, the city offered a protected space where crops could be stored safely from both moisture and thieves, keeping one of the greatest fears of ancient peoples, food shortages at bay for those living inside the city walls.

The city also contributed immensely to the resoluteness of conflict areas. The underground city was a shelter during the Byzantine Arab Wars late eighth to twelfth centuries and the Mongol invasions (14th century). Indeed, it remained a refuge for the inhabitants fleeing alien domination after these events, the conquest of the region by the Ottoman Turks.

Thank you so much for reading my work.

Any feedback or support that you have to offer is accepted and appreciated.