On the right, a stone door used to block off entrances. On the left, our tour guide Done use a member of our tour group to demonstrate how enemies were tortured, being hung from two niches carved out of the rock on either side of columns.
When it was not safe for Christians in the Kapadokya region, they started to build underground cities where they could retreat and hide. The one we visited, Derinkuyu is 65 meters deep, 14 floors consisting of stables, kitchens, ventilation shafts, chimneys, churches and assembly halls/sleeping quarters. Floors were mostly connected by tunnels purposely tight and low to make it more difficult for enemies to get through to attack. They also dug holes in the tunnels and covered them with leaves as traps. I definitely felt thankful of my petite size, it meant I barely had to bend down to get through any part of the "city".
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