Cennet-Cehennem (Heaven and Hell) - 29 July 2021

    Cennet (Heaven) and Cehennem (Hell) are two limestone sinkholes located 1 km south of Narlıkuyu in Mersin Province. Hell is the smaller of the caverns with walls steep enough to prevent any access. Heaven, measuring 110 x 250 m and 70 m deep, offers a convenient descent that have been used by men since antiquity. At the southern end of Cennet there is an extensive cave at the mouth of which a church dedicated to Virgin Mary was built in the 5th century. This geological feature inspired the first known name for the whole cavern - Corycian Cave. It was an ideal habitat for crocuses, and the obtained saffron was exported from nearby Korykos (Corycus) (Hill 1996). The site is mentioned in the Greek myths as the place where the monstrous serpent Typhon was nurtured. On the edge of Heaven sits an over-ground Roman temple converted to a church.

Church of Virgin Mary at Cennet-Cehennem*

Landform (Google Earth) N↑ *

Site after recent modernization (1) *

Facilities (1) *

Hell (Dünya Gazetesi) (2) *

Heaven (3) *

Stairway to Heaven ;) (1) *

Some of over 400 steps (3) *

Church of Virgin Mary (3) *

    The Church of Virgin Mary also known as the Chapel of St. Mary is a small (12,4 x 6,7 m) church that lies at the bottom of the south end of the Cennet sinkhole. This simple single naved structure, funded by a certain Paulus, was probably built in the 5th century. It is believed that the church never had a roof over the nave, which would further worsen the lighting conditions. The structure was well protected from the elements by the overhanging rock.

    The church was in use as a mosque in 1850s and as a tea-shop in 1970s (Hill 1996). Currently, it gives joy to tourists who appreciate its state of preservation.

N↑, Hill (1996) *

View from north (3) *

Darkness in southern windows coming
from cave (3) *

Northwestern corner (3) *

Southwestern corner (3) *

Southeastern corner (3) *

Doorway with inscription (3) * 

Apse with single window (3) *

Virgin and rows of Saints (3) *

Looking west from apse (3) *

Interior from southwest (3) *

Shaft of very useful elevator (3) *

Cave behind church *

Slippery path covered with net for safety *

Getting deeper...*

...and deeper *

    The so-called Temple-Church is situated 10-15 m from the southern edge of the Cennet sinkhole. The building was a Roman temple dedicated to Zeus and converted into a church in the 5th century. The church, built on a plan of basilica (one nave and two aisles), is almost completely ruined also thanks to the activity of the overzelous 19th century archaeologist James Bent.

Hill (1996) *

Remaining part of apse from south *

View from east *

    My first visit at Cennet-Cehennem took place in 2013 - the year of my arrival in Turkey. At that time, there was only a sunburned field and a shabby ticket kiosk. This trip's initial destination was the Asthma Cave which is very close to the Heaven and Hell. While passing by I didn't recognize the place. My mother-in-law only told me we had visited it in the past. I was kind of shocked, and after we were done with the cave I left my family in a cafe and did the sight-seeing of the 'reinvented site'. It was really great, and all my good feelings were intensified by the fact that I was able to return to the ground with the newly built elevator!