Ancient Secrets Hidden Underground in Türkiye

Şerefiye underground water tank in Istanbul - Photo: Izabela Miszczak

Interestingly, not all of these wonders lie above ground. Deep underground in Türkiye lie historical treasures, some dating back more than 12,000 years, with incredibly impressive architecture.

Şerefiye underground water tank in Istanbul, Türkiye

The Şerefiye reservoir is used to store fresh water brought from the Belgrade Forest, a wilderness near the Black Sea north of the city, through a nearly 250km long network of canals. The water is then distributed to the population.

By the late 18th or early 19th century, the existence of the Şerefiye cistern had been completely forgotten. A large private estate was built on the site, leaving the cistern hidden for many years.

It wasn't until 2010, when some structures were demolished, that the underground entrance to the cistern was revealed. The 1,600-year-old cistern opened to the public in 2018.

Dara Water Tank, Mardin

In the past, the cistern contained water flowing down from the mountain for use by local people and Roman soldiers stationed in Dara - Photo: Turkish Airlines Blog

Apart from locals herding cattle through the ruins of a 6th-century garrison city, few people have come to the site of the Dara cistern, which once held water flowing down from the mountains for use by locals and Roman soldiers stationed in Dara.

Today, the site holds countless treasures, including rock-cut tombs, olive mills, and a series of underground cisterns. One is so large that locals believe it was a dungeon. They tell fantastic tales of prisoners chained for years, relying on the weak rays of sunlight to keep track of the passage of time.

Derinkuyu "Deep Well"

Derinkuyu, which means "deep well" in English, was once a shelter for 20,000 people - Photo: Destinations

This place was listed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1985 - Photo: Destinations

In 1963, a Turkish farmer noticed that his chickens kept disappearing and then reappearing as if by magic. He followed their trail to a crack in the tufa, the volcanic rock that forms Cappadocia's peribaca chimneys, and found the entrance to a cave system 18 stories deep.

Derinkuyu, which translates to “deep well” in English, was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1985. It once served as a safe haven for up to 20,000 people. The deeper you go, the more humid the atmosphere inside the cave becomes.

There are eight floors open to the public, filled with the ruins of a church, stables, wine presses and an empty tomb.

Rümeli Han Tunnel, Taksim, Istanbul

Perhaps the elite used this road to travel without being detected - Photo: 4traveler

In ornate buildings like Rümeli Han, people from Istanbul come to dine, while artists, actors and singers take centre stage.

Rümeli Han was built in 1894. Renovation work on the building began just over five years ago. During that time, the underground secrets of Rümeli Han were revealed. The tunnel is now open to the public.

No one is sure exactly what the tunnel's purpose was. Perhaps the elite used it to travel undetected, and to meet each other from time to time.

Göbeklitepe structure

Compared to Göbeklitepe, Stonehenge, the famous megalithic structure of England, seems to be very young - Photo: Teomancimit

In 2018, UNESCO recognized Göbeklitepe as the first monumental man-made structure in history. By comparison, Stonehenge, the famous British megalithic monument, seems much younger.

Experts believe the T-shaped pillars were erected by hunter-gatherers as places of worship, a practice previously associated only with settled agricultural communities.

Physically, it is difficult to imagine anyone, human or otherwise, moving these giant boulders into place.

Yeraltı Camii Church

Yeraltı Mosque is located on a small street in the Karaköy area of ​​Istanbul - Photo: Trip Advisor

The church's simple interior design relies on repetition and clean lines - Photo: Getty

The Yeraltı Mosque is located on a small street in the Karaköy area of ​​Istanbul. Behind the unassuming door opens a simple interior design based on repetition and clean lines.

Even on the warmest days, the inside remains cool thanks to the 2-meter thick walls.

At first glance, this mosque doesn't seem to offer much interest.

However, the church's appearance does not tell the whole story of the place. Yeraltı, which literally means underground, was originally a dungeon in the basement of a fortress. Over the following centuries, the fortress was damaged, repaired, reused, and finally converted into a mosque in 1757.

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/nhung-diem-bi-mat-co-xua-an-duoi-long-dat-tho-nhi-ky-20240523085529396.htm