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The underground cities of the Byzantine Empire - Veronica Kalas

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The breathtaking geological formations of Cappadocia are one of the most astonishing landscapes on Earth. Also known as “fairy chimneys,” this impressive terrain hides an equally remarkable feat of pre-modern engineering: a network of extensive underground cities stretching deep below the surface. Who inhabited these cities, and why? Veronica Kalas uncovers the secrets of this buried history.

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Cappadocia is located in east-central Anatolia, in the center of modern day Turkey and just north of the Taurus mountains. The region boasts a unique relationship between dramatic natural forms and feats of human engineering. The landscape in Cappadocia was formed by ancient volcanic eruptions which solidified into a soft rock (called tuff) which was then shaped by wind and water into towers, cones, valleys, and caves. These rock formations stand as tall as 130 feet. Throughout the region's history, the Cappadocian landscape has been shaped just as meaningfully by cultural, religious, and geopolitical forces.

The Hittites (1800-1200 BCE) were some of the first inhabitants of Cappadocia, occupying Goreme, which is now a UNESCO World Heritage site and national park. The Cappadocian region was at a crossroads of a multitude of geopolitical conflicts- Alexander the Great's Macedonia, the following Seleucid empire, the Romans, and finally, the medieval Byzantine empire. The persistent level of conflict in the region led residents to hide, protected in entire towns tunneled in to the volcanic rock.

By the 4th century, Cappadocia was a religious refuge for early Christians fleeing Rome's persecution. The area is referenced in the biblical books of Acts and 1 Peter and produced theologians important to the formation of early Christian doctrine. The churches and monasteries within the labyrinths of Cappadocia are a testament to this period, and the frescoed paintings recovered here are well-preserved examples of Byzantine art today.

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Meet The Creators

  • Educator Veronica Kalas
  • Director Serin İnan, Tolga Yıldız
  • Narrator Addison Anderson
  • Storyboard Artist Dilara Karakaş
  • Animator Tolga Yıldız, İrem Usta
  • Compositor Tolga Yıldız
  • Art Director Serin İnan
  • Composer Tolga Yıldız
  • Illustrator Dilara Karakaş
  • Director of Production Gerta Xhelo
  • Produced by Abdallah Ewis
  • Editorial Director Alex Rosenthal
  • Editorial Producer Dan Kwartler
  • Script Editor Nidhi Upadhyaya

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