|
|
 |
|
The
burial churches built in a natural cave on the skirt of Mount Pion
(PanaYlr), to the north of Ephesus, are known as Seven Sleepers' Grotto.
The legend of Seven Sleepers in the Christian tradition is as follows:
Probably in the reign of Emperor Decius (250 - 253), seven young Christian
men fled from the forced participation in the pagan cults and hid in a
cave.
Having slept for 200 years, they woke up in the reign of Theodosius II
(408-450). Their names were Maximian, Malchus, Martinian, Dionysius, John,
Serapion and Constantine. |
|
| |
|
|
Having woken up from their long sleep, these seven young men lived and
died as Christians in a Christian Empire. On the order of the emperor the
cave where they had fallen asleep was rearranged with a funerary church
with catacombs beneath and around and they were buried there when they
died. Later when notables and religious leaders also wanted to be buried
here, the area was expanded and the number of tombs was increased. |
|
 |
|
 |
|
The
earliest text of the Seven Sleepers of Ephesus is found in the writings of
Syrian authors (5th and 6th c. Monophysites). The heroes became Orthodox
martyrs and the legend is known in the Latin church since 6th c. It is
mentioned as 'The Shrine of Seven Sleepers' in the pilgrimage guide by
Theodosius who visited Ephesus in 530 CEo FI. Abradas and Leon, two
religious men, built a domed funerary church in the shrine ca. 600. |
|
| In the
following years all the available room around was used for burials and
even rock was hewn for this. The location of Ephesus on pilgrimage routes
to the Holy Land helped the cult of Seven Sleepers spread. Pilgrims from
close by or far away lands all visited the Seven Sleepers from the
beginning of 12th century on. |
|
|
Daniel, a pilgrim, who visited the site about the beginning of 12th c.,
writes that there were the tombs of many saints here. Perhaps the name of
the mount, IPanaYlr" (fair), comes from the pilgrims visiting the site all
along the Middle Ages. In the Koran, verses 8-16 of Sura 18 are about the
Seven Sleepers who were a topic in Islamic art as well. There are two more
sites in Turkey, that are also called Seven Sleepers' Grotto (in Tarsus
and Kahramanmaras). |
|
 |
|
 |
|
The
Grotto of Seven Sleepers was excavated by Austrian Archaeological
Institute under the supervision of J. Keil and F. Miltner between
19261928. The noteworthy point about the excavations is that whatever was
unearthed conformed with whatever was told by the locals. Funerary
churches dated to the 4th and 5th centuries do not have a regular plan.
The floors have mosaic pavement under which there are catacombs. |
|
|
The
superstructure has entirely collapsed but it is understood that in the
middle was a dome surrounded by vaults. Frescoes on the walls and vaults
have mainly vegetal decoration. There are graffiti done by pilgrims from
the West. Most of these are in Greek and Latin, telling about the Seven
Sleepers, and some give the names of the pilgrims. The latest dates of
graffiti are between 1397 - 1442. |
|
 |
|
| Consequently,
tombs and funerary church for the Seven Sleepers were built here first and
then gradually other pious people were buried, forming a holy cemetery. In
the excavations more than 2000 oil lamps were recovered, that were left as
gifts. Most of the oil lamps have cross motifs as decoration. |
|
|
|
|
|
Rated: 9.8
out of 10
by 343
Reviews
|
|
|
Pages |
Ads |
|
|
|
|
