Exploring Derinkuyu: Turkey's Extraordinary Underground City.

Exploring Derinkuyu: Turkey's Extraordinary Underground City.                                              Unveiled By Comr Olamide Akinwumi.

Derinkuyu, also known as Elengubu, stands as an extraordinary multi-level underground city near the modern town of Derinkuyu in Nevşehir Province, Turkey. Delving to a depth of approximately 85 meters (280 feet), this ancient marvel is expansive enough to have housed up to 20,000 people, along with their livestock and food stores. It proudly holds the title of being the largest excavated underground city in Turkey, forming part of several subterranean complexes scattered throughout Cappadocia.

The uniqueness of Derinkuyu lies in its ability to be sealed from the inside, thanks to massive rolling stone doors that can isolate each floor independently. Housing a population of 20,000, this underground refuge boasts amenities found in similar complexes across Cappadocia, including wine and oil presses, stables, cellars, storage rooms, refectories, and chapels. Of particular interest is a spacious room on the second floor, featuring a barrel-vaulted ceiling, believed to have functioned as a religious school.

A series of vertical staircases starting between the third and fourth levels leads to a church on the lowest (fifth) level. The grand 55-meter (180 feet) ventilation shaft, resembling a well, served both the villagers above and those in hiding, providing water in times of inaccessibility to the outside world.

Derinkuyu's origin traces back to the 8th–7th centuries BC when caves were initially carved into the soft volcanic rock by the Phrygians. Over time, as the Phrygian language waned, replaced by Greek, Christian inhabitants expanded these caverns into intricate multiple-level structures, adding chapels and Greek inscriptions.

By the Byzantine era, Derinkuyu became a fully-formed city, offering refuge during the Arab–Byzantine wars (780–1180 AD). Intriguingly, it was connected to another underground city, Kaymakli, through an extensive network of 8–9 kilometers of tunnels. Even during the Mongolian incursions of the 14th century, these cities continued to be sanctuaries.

In the 20th century, as the region fell to the Ottomans, the underground cities became refuges for the Christian natives against Turkish Muslim rulers. In 1923, with the population exchange between Greece and Turkey, the Christian inhabitants were expelled, and the tunnels were abandoned.

Rediscovered in 1963, Derinkuyu opened its doors to visitors in 1969, allowing exploration of about half of the underground city by 2016.

Derinkuyu, with its troglodyte population, became crucial during the 7th century's Arab raids on the Byzantine Empire. As the Byzantines regained control between the 7th and 11th centuries, the troglodytes emerged, creating churches carved into rock faces, solidifying Cappadocia's fame.

In the 1920s, the Christian population's expulsion led to the abandonment of the tunnels, now silent witnesses to a rich history. Today, Derinkuyu stands as a testament to the resilience and resourcefulness of its ancient inhabitants, offering a captivating journey through layers of time.

Comr Olamide Akinwumi unravels the layers of history hidden beneath Derinkuyu's surface, offering a glimpse into the ingenious architecture and cultural significance of this subterranean wonder.