Gate to hell found in southwestern Turkey (VIDEO)
ourists swimming in the travertine pools in Pamukkale where thousands of tourists visit per year located 20 kilometers from the town of Denizli nearby ancient city Hierapolis western Turkey, 19 August 2004.
Looking for the highway to hell?
Italian archeologists believe they have found it in southwestern Turkey.
An ancient cave called Plutonium, believed to be the portal to Hades in Greek and Roman myth, was uncovered at the ancient site of Hierapolis.
"This is an exceptional discovery as it confirms and clarifies the information we have from the ancient literary and historic sources,” Alister Filippini, a researcher in Roman historian at the University of Palermo, Italy told Discovery News.
The new discovery features a temple, a pool, and multiple steps that once descended into the hell.
“People could watch the sacred rites from these steps, but they could not get to the area near the opening. Only the priests could stand in front of the portal,” said Francesco D'Andria, professor of classic archeology at the University of Salento.
There were even inscriptions in stones related to the underworld rulers Pluto and Kore.
In ancient times, the gate was used for sacred rites, including sacrifices of animals.
Researchers believe the cave survived until the 6th century when it was destroyed by Christians.
Earthquakes may have also destroyed the tunnel.