Posted on 01/28/2018 1:23:11 PM PST by aMorePerfectUnion
In 1963, a Turkish man accidentally uncovered an underground city while making renovations to his home. In the region of Cappadocia, the man was knocking down a wall in his basement when he unintentionally came across a secret room, which led to an underground tunnel, which opened up to a ancient hidden city: Derinkuyu.
This ancient city was lying 18 stories beneath the Earth's surface. With about 600 entrances, it could house over 20,000 people and the preservation from the photos show the possibility of livestock, food supplies, churches, tombs, communal rooms, schools and stables all hidden in the underground city (Chapel featured in image above).
The subterranean tunnels stretch for miles and even connect Derinkuyu with other underground ancient cities nearby.
Believed to be created during the Byzantine era in 780-1180 AD, the city's elaborate architecture was most likely used to protect its creators from war and natural disasters. The massive stone doors could close Derinkuyu from intruders on the outside, and each story was able to be cut off separately. 
Astonishing enough, Derinkuyu is not the only city of its kind, though it is up there for one of the largest underground cities. Now, about only half of the city is accessible, becoming a popular tourist destination, along with the natural geological makeup of the region, including rock formations and spires known as "fairy chimneys."
ping
Cleanup on Floor 8.....
Reminds me of the underground caverns under Istanbul in “From Russia With Love”
I wonder how in the world they provided for fresh air???
Indiana Jones ping!!!
Funny thing is that most of these underground cities were Christian; hiding from prosecution due to Muslims.
What did they do for fresh air? Light? Water and Sewer? Internet connection?
Convection, I suppose. Some dedicated air channels would have been good.
What a glorious post!
I wonder if all of his neighbors are knocking apart their basements to find more entries.
And who is collecting tourist fees?
Exactly...
Livestock..
Cooking and
the men’s latrines!
They tapped into these. Pure genius.
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/fairy-chimneys-turkey-180956654/
Awe-inspiring. Thank you for posting.
Very cool.
L
“Internet connection?”
HughesNet. It’s everywhere.
It reminds me of the final pages of H.P. Lovecraft's short story "The Rats in the Walls".
It doesn't end well.
I’m sure that had air portals throughout the city. People in the past were very advanced in their day based on the knowledge they knew at the time. That’s why people visit Rome, the Pyramids in Egypt , Pyramid cities in South America and such underground cites all across Asia and Asia Minor. We marveled how they did things, especially in architecture, with no modern technology but with precision and many based on positions of stars...etc
He found this back in 1963 per article. Absolutely fascinating.
That’s cool.
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