Eine andere Welt
DIE UNTERIRDISCHEN STÄDTE KAPPADOKIENS.
STRUCTURAL FEATURES
Hundreds of rooms in the underground cities were connected to each other with long passages and labyrinth-like tunnels. The corridors were made long, low and narrow, to restrict the movements of enemies. Small indentions were also hollowed out on the wall surfaces of these corridors, in which to put candles and oil lamps filled with gold-colored linseed oil. However, so far, in none of the underground settlements has an oil-press (a place used to make linseed-oil) been found. Therefore, it is assumed that linseed oil was made outside and then taken to the underground settlements. The linseed oil lamps were used not only to lit the places but also to heat them. There are millstones for defence purposes between the floors to separate the various areas. The millstones, whic can be opened only from the inside, are 1-1,5 m in height, 30-50 cm in width and 200-500 kg in weight. A hole bored in the center was used to open and close the millstone, as well as to see the enemies behind it, or to attack them with one or two exceptions, were carved out in situ.
Another type of doors used in the underground settlements is wooden doors. These doors, not used for defense purposes, were mainly used for pricacy and had two or three bolts.
In the ozkonak Underground Settlement, unlike the other ones, above the tunnels, next to the milstone, small vertical holes were hollowed out to pour hot oil on their enemies or to spear them. Another deferse precaution in the underground settlements were long and narrow tunnels with traps, from 2-3 m indepths, designated to capture the enemies.
The oldest floors f the underground settlements are generally the ground floors. They were ususally used as stables, due to the fact that it was difficult to take the animals to the lower flors. On the lower part of the stable walls were unevenly hollowed out pits in which to put fodder for the animals, and holes to tie them.
The kitchens and the wineries are also found on the upper floors of the underground settlements, warm both in summer and in winter. The wineries, where wine was made from local grapes, were built on the upper floors so that the grapes could be transported easily. Taking the number of the kitchens into consideration, it is obvious that the kitchens were communal areas. In the kitchens were ovens called "Tandir", which are still used in towns and villages of Cappodocia. Large earthernware jears were placed in small holes in the ground mext to the kitchen walls. These jars were filled in with barley, wheat, corn and various vegetables, as well as beer and wine.
There are communicaton holes, not bigger than 10-15 cm in diameter, on the floors and the ceilings f the rooms between the various levels. Using these holes, underground city inhabitants did not have to walk through the long and tiring tunnels, they also could take defense precautions easily and quickly during times of danger. What they did about the toilet facilities is still unknown because in only two of the underground settlements, Tatlarin and Guzelyurt (Gelveri), are toilets fonud. In these settlements, there are living areas and even graveyards, to be used during the times of lenghty wars. However; whether these graves belonged to priests or important people is still unknown.
Inside the underground settlements, usualy connected with the lowest level, are shafts used for both ventilation and communication. These shafts were also used as wells. Some of the wells did not have access at the ground level, to prevent the enemy from poisoning the water supply.
Although some researchers claim that the underground settlements were connected to each other with tunnels, no conclusive evidence to support this idea has been found to date.
Quelle: Website der Provinzverwaltung Nevsehir, Kappadokien
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