Entrance to Mythical Underworld Found in Real World

Pluto and Harlequin in Hell by Giuseppe Bernardino Bison

Over the centuries, numerous artists have depicted the underworld. Pluto and Harlequin in Hell, shown here, was painted between 1820 and 1840 by Giuseppe Bernardino Bison.

Perhaps you have read ancient Greek myths about Theseus, Odysseus, or Orpheus and the heroes’ danger-filled journeys to the underworld. Although the stories are fiction, the Greeks and Romans who spoke of the dark realm ruled by the god Hades (or Pluto) had in mind an actual place, with a physical entrance. This “mythical” gateway has now been located. It doesn’t lead to the storied land of torment, but its dangers are real enough.

Italian archaeologists recently announced that they have found a cave in Turkey that, long ago, the Greeks thought led to the underworld. It is near the ancient city of Hierapolis, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, founded more than 2,200 years ago. A place of religious pilgrimages, called the Ploutonion (“the place of Pluto”), was described by several ancient writers. These chronicles tell of a cave with air that poisoned any living thing brave or foolish enough to enter. Because it was so lethal, people thought the vapor was sent by Pluto, the purported god of the underworld. Animals were sacrificed by leading them into the cave and then dragging them out dead. Only priests could descend into the cave and emerge unharmed. Even near the cave, some people who gathered for religious rites had visions and prophesied of events to come.

Until recently, these stories were unsubstantiated. The excavations now tell us that the gas was carbon dioxide seeping out of the ground naturally. In dense concentration, CO2 is lethal. In fact, the archaeologists observed birds that flew toward the cave’s opening for the warm air fall down dead. Even a strong, nonlethal whiff can cause hallucinations, which in ancient times gave rise to prophecies. The priests who had ventured into the cave knew either to hold their breath or move carefully between oxygen pockets.

The site remained functional until the 4th century AD. About 200 years later, it was destroyed by Christians. Earthquakes probably completed the site’s destruction.

Image credit: © Christie’s Images/Corbis

Related Links

  • Pluto’s Gate Uncovered in Turkey
    Along with reading the full story, you can see a digital reconstruction of the Ploutonion and several other photos of the site.
    (Source: Discovery.com, March 29, 2013)
  • Haides
    Get some background on the Greek god who supposedly sent forth the poisoned vapors from beneath the earth.
    (Source: The Theoi Project: Guide to Greek Mythology (private website); accessed April 30, 2013)
  • Hierapolis di Frigia
    Here’s everything you might want to know about the archaeological excavations in Hierapolis, in western Turkey. Read it in Italian, English, or Turkish.
    (Source: Università del Salento; accessed April 30, 2013)

21 Comments

  1. HI says:

    Hello

  2. Dragon Boy says:

    WoW
    WoW WoW
    WoW WoW WoW
    WoW WoW WoW WoW

  3. Korina says:

    For all of you saying, “hi”, this is actually fascinating. I mean really, now we know some of the truths and how they thought back in the Ancient Greek time! I love this and will be showing this to all my witty Greeky(greek geek) friends!

  4. kat says:

    awesome

  5. JJ says:

    cooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooool

  6. Asia says:

    I love the pretty painting that watz up

  7. Vada says:

    Heyy u guy it’s creepy!! Lolz love ya!! <3

  8. Vada says:

    Entrance to Mythical Underworld Found in Real World

    Over the centuries, numerous artists have depicted the underworld. Pluto and Harlequin in Hell, shown here, was painted between 1820 and 1840 by Giuseppe Bernardino Bison.

    Perhaps you have read ancient Greek myths about Theseus, Odysseus, or Orpheus and the heroes’ danger-filled journeys to the underworld. Although the stories are fiction, the Greeks and Romans who spoke of the dark realm ruled by the god Hades (or Pluto) had in mind an actual place, with a physical entrance. This “mythical” gateway has now been located. It doesn’t lead to the storied land of torment, but its dangers are real enough.

    Italian archaeologists recently announced that they have found a cave in Turkey that, long ago, the Greeks thought led to the underworld. It is near the ancient city of Hierapolis, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, founded more than 2,200 years ago. A place of religious pilgrimages, called the Ploutonion (“the place of Pluto”), was described by several ancient writers. These chronicles tell of a cave with air that poisoned any living thing brave or foolish enough to enter. Because it was so lethal, people thought the vapor was sent by Pluto, the purported god of the underworld. Animals were sacrificed by leading them into the cave and then dragging them out dead. Only priests could descend into the cave and emerge unharmed. Even near the cave, some people who gathered for religious rites had visions and prophesied of events to come.

    Until recently, these stories were unsubstantiated. The excavations now tell us that the gas was carbon dioxide seeping out of the ground naturally. In dense concentration, CO2 is lethal. In fact, the archaeologists observed birds that flew toward the cave’s opening for the warm air fall down dead. Even a strong, nonlethal whiff can cause hallucinations, which in ancient times gave rise to prophecies. The priests who had ventured into the cave knew either to hold their breath or move carefully between oxygen pockets.

    The site remained functional until the 4th century AD. About 200 years later, it was destroyed by Christians. Earthquakes probably completed the site’s destruction.

    Image credit: © Christie’s Images/Corbis

    Related Links

    Pluto’s Gate Uncovered in Turkey
    Along with reading the full story, you can see a digital reconstruction of the Ploutonion and several other photos of the site.
    (Source: Discovery.com, March 29, 2013)
    Haides
    Get some background on the Greek god who supposedly sent forth the poisoned vapors from beneath the earth.
    (Source: The Theoi Project: Guide to Greek Mythology (private website); accessed April 30, 2013)
    Hierapolis di Frigia
    Here’s everything you might want to know about the archaeological excavations in Hierapolis, in western Turkey. Read it in Italian, English, or Turkish.
    (Source: Università del Salento; accessed April 30, 2013)

    8 Comments
    HI says:
    June 2013 at 1:11 pm
    Hello

    Reply
    Dragon Boy says:
    July 2013 at 10:42 am
    Oh hi

    Reply
    Dragon Boy says:
    July 2013 at 10:41 am
    WoW
    WoW WoW
    WoW WoW WoW
    WoW WoW WoW WoW

    Reply
    bob says:
    August 2013 at 1:02 pm
    hi

    Reply
    Korina says:
    August 2013 at 5:20 pm
    For all of you saying, “hi”, this is actually fascinating. I mean really, now we know some of the truths and how they thought back in the Ancient Greek time! I love this and will be showing this to all my witty Greeky(greek geek) friends!

    Reply
    kat says:
    August 2013 at 9:38 pm
    awesome

    Reply
    JJ says:
    October 2013 at 5:12 pm
    cooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooool

    Reply
    Asia says:
    October 2013 at 12:42 pm
    I love the pretty painting that watz up

    Reply
    Vada says:
    Your comment is awaiting moderation.
    February 2014 at 12:25 pm
    Heyy u guy it’s creepy!! Lolz love ya!! <3

    Reply
    Vada says:
    Your comment is awaiting moderation.
    February 2014 at 12:25 pm
    Hi

    Reply
    Post Comment

  9. Mind-Blown Chick says:

    WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWHHHHHHHHHHHHHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAATTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! whoa… cool…Hey dudes.

  10. That one guy says:

    One time I ate cheese that was white!

  11. the awsome kid jared says:

    awsome

  12. the awsome kid jared says:

    hi guys

  13. jonah figgins says:

    hey

  14. Gavin says:

    I think that it could be a place that could be his test for people who want to go to the under-world. Maybe we could find priest and send them to discover the cave and see what’s inside.

  15. Treyschroeder says:

    i don’t think its real

  16. Stanley says:

    Awesome

  17. lillie duncan says:

    this is very interesting i mean at least we now reall wht to call i love to like investingate it farther south than most people do i figured it was more geographicaly