The world has its own secrets. Most of the past may have already been forgotten and buried underground, and in some instances, people chance upon these wonderful secrets that give them a glimpse of how life was once.
Centuries back, people were persecuted for their beliefs. Religion and faith were once taboo in certain countries, and for those who have remained stalwart in their faith, they had to look for ways to keep it under wraps so that they can still worship without being oppressed.
One such example is an enormous underground city that they have recently uncovered in Turkey. They believe that this was created by the persecuted Jews and Christians in the time of Imperial Rome. The believers created their own safe haven where they can meet with their peers and worship in silence.
The uncovered city is 74 acres big. This ancient city is believed to have been home during the 1st century. This was the safe haven and synagogue for more than 70,000 people living in the area at that time.
So, how was all this discovered? It all began when the workers in the area found what seemed to be just a small, unassuming cave as they were trying to conduct restoration work on nearby houses found in the town of Midyat, southeast Turkey. This was back in 2020. As for the travelers and residents in the area, they know that Midyat is often referred to as an open air museum because the place is decorated with a variety of ancient stone structures that go way back.
The workers conducted preliminary surveys and discovered that it was more than just a cave. As they ventured into its opening, they saw that the area was filled with series of galleries, silos, chambers, and some areas of worship for those who once walked on its ground.
Excavations were immediately made and so far, they have only mapped around 5 percent of the total area. Gani Tarkan, director of the Mardin Museum in Midyat, said that they have dubbed the area as “Matiate” which in ancient Assyrian means homeland.
Of the 5 percent mapped, the workers have seen dozens of silos for storing grain, olive oil, wine, and other food items. They have also come across artifacts such as wine and olive oil making equipment, coins, and lamps. They also saw proof that certain areas of the underground city have been utilized as catacombs. All of these may have happened during the Byzantine period.
They also looked at the ceilings and saw that on its high vaults is a chamber. When the archeologists examined the area further, they also saw found the Star of David engraved into the wall. They also saw some carvings such as human figures in the area around it.
Tarkan believes that this could actually be the biggest underground city in all of Turkey. Even when it had already been abandoned as a living center, the place lived on to serve the people and become its wine making center and burial catacombs.
Midyat and the Mardin Museum, as well as the Turkish national government, have plans to continue and finish their archeological work so that they can turn it into a tourist attraction that can help financially support the city.
If you want to take a tour of the city, here is what the TRT World News featured:
“Excavations are under way in the Turkish town of Midyat to unearth an underground city believed to be the country’s largest.
It all began with the discovery of a cave which simply turned out to be a gateway of intricate mazes and corridors.”
— TRT World (@trtworld) May 21, 2022
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