One of Cappadocia's most interesting troglodyte villages is to be found below the town of Derinkuyu. It probably dates from Hittite times, but evidence from the excavations (e.g. double millstones made of granite) have revealed that the Hittites only used the top story. So far eight levels have been discovered with dwellings, store-rooms, chapels and parts of monasteries, which can be blocked off with stones resembling millstones. The man-made caves are grouped around an 85m/280ft shaft with a cleverly-devised ventilation system comprising 52 vents.
The shafts also served as wells.
Cross-section of the underground city
The underground refuge developed from Roman times to a city 55m/180ft deep and with a total surface area of 4sq.km/1.5sq.mi. Derinkuyu was attacked by Arabs on three occasions. Only the top three levels were used as living accommodation. The lower levels were for emergencies and consisted of chapels and storage areas. Every house had its own kitchen, bedroom, dining room, toilet, weapons store and water cistern (up to 30,000liters/6,600gallons), store-rooms and stables. Long underground passages linked the city with other troglodyte communities in the region. The 9km/5.5mi passage to Kaymakli allows three people to walk together upright. Unfortunately, the air vents have collapsed and this section is no longer accessible.
An underground monastery at Derinkuyu, which was also used as a psychiatric hospital at the same time, was restored by Ayasozori and Ayanaryeros. The network of rooms contains workshops, holy water containers, medicine chests and a room where the mentally ill were treated (probably with strait-jackets).
At the center of the complex lies a chapel, constructed of basalt and which is used today as a mosque. It dates from the 16th or 17th century and contains paintings of Jesus, Mary, angels and saints. Another chapel with a handsome bell-tower houses some notable wooden carvings with some interesting pillars by the entrance.
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Derinkuyu
