In the heart of southern Turkey, an ancient temple, whispered to be a "Portal to Hell," has stood for centuries.Located in the ancient city of Hierapolis, the temple has inspired fear since the time of the Greeks.
Legends whispered of a place where any creature daring to enter met a swift and unexplained demise. Now, researchers have finally cracked the code behind this deadly enigma.
The culprit isn't the wrath of Hades, the Greek god of the underworld, but a far more earthly phenomenon – concentrated carbon dioxide (CO2) gas. This discovery explains the string of unexplained deaths reported near the temple.
The temple's deadly reputation stretches back millennia. Fears of the temple's dangers were documented as early as ancient Greek writings. Geographer Strabo described a place shrouded in "a vapour so misty and dense that one can scarcely see the ground," adding a chilling detail: sparrows thrown in "met their demise instantly."
Recent history echoes these accounts, with birds found lifeless near the entrance, seemingly drawn to their doom. Excavations unearthed further clues – columns inscribed with pleas to underworld deities, perhaps desperate attempts to appease the source of the deadly fumes.
Archeologist Francesco D'Andria, leading the excavation, witnessed the area's lethal effects firsthand. "Several birds died as they tried to get close to the warm opening," she said, "instantly killed by the carbon dioxide fumes."
D'Andria's team even found evidence suggesting pilgrims used birds to test the cave's potency, and rumors hint at priests sacrificing bulls to underworld gods while under the influence of the toxic fumes.
The culprit behind this deadly secret? A geological fault line. A shocking 91% concentration of CO2, enough to be lethal, was found emanating from a grotto beneath the temple.These fumes continue to seep out today, claiming the lives of unsuspecting insects, birds, and even mammals.