Cappadocia What makes Cappadocia so exceedingly strange are the twisted, billowing forms found in the rocks, forming a ream landscape.Over millions of years, erosion covered the land with thick layers of volcanic tuff forming rock pinnacles, which were then hewn out by man into unique, evocative monuments. The name Cappadocia probably derives from the Persian “Katpatukya”, meaning “ the land of the beautiful horses”. It is a land of vast plains, rolling hills, rugged mountains and extinct volcanoes. It is a veritable treasury of historical relics from the Chalcolithic era to the Seljuk Turks period. The visitor may seldom travel more then a few miles without encountering some derelict reminders of Cappadocia‘s colorful past.

Geological Aspects of Cappadocia The history of Cappadocia begins some 60 millions of years ago, when the corrugating motion of the earth’s crust led to the raising of the Tauern chain. These telluric motions were accompanied by volcanic eruptions right throughout the area; the three tall peaks that dominate the region – The Volcano Erciyes (3916 meters), The Volcano Hasan (3268 meters) and Gollu dag – were active volcanoes; these volcanoes are still active, even though they have not erupted since the dawn of history as prehistoric and Roman records reefers to legendary eruptions. However the volcanoes of Cappadocia must have been active 8000 years ago as the frescoes of a city plan from a house in Catalhöyük, a Neolithic settlement dated to 6500 B.C. near Konya in central Turkey. In addition to the European Alps, the Taurus mountains of southern Anotolia were formed during the Tertiary period of geological development. During the “Alpine period" of mountain-building, deep fissures and large depressed areas were created The fracturing process allowed the subsurface magma to find to find its way to the surface where it formed the Erciyes, Melendiz, Golludag, and Hasan Dagi eruption cones. After numerous eruptions these cones increased in size and formed a chain of volcanoes running parallel to the Taurus mountains. In addition, volcanic material slowly ran towards the depressed areas and drowned previously formed hills and valleys. This geological activity changed the general landscape of the region, giving it the appearance of a plateau. Wind, climate, mechanical weathering ( forces breaking up rocks ) rain, and rivers are the types of erosion that gave Cappadocia its unusual, characteristic formations. The Cappdocian climate, with sharp changes of temperature, heavy rains, and melting snow in the spring, plays an important role in the formation of the Cappadocian landscape. In addition, mechanical weathering is responsible for fragmentation because rocks expand when heated and break up as they cool. Water freezing in the cracks can also cause fragmentation. However, the most important sources of erosion are rain and rivers. Heavy rainfall transformed the smooth surface of the plateau into a complex pattern of gullies that followed rivers. Sometimes streams and rivers made very sharp vertical cuts into the volcanic soil and created isolated pinnacles at the intersection of two or more gullies. Rain and rivers also formed valleys such as Zelve and Goreme.

Christianty in Cappadocia Christianity arrived early in Cappadocia, probably during the first century, when it was practised secretly in grottos and in cellars in order to avoid persecution of Christians ceased under the rule of Emperor Constantine the Great (313-337 A.D.). After the splitting of the Roman Empire into eastern and western parts, Cappadocia was ruled by the Christian emperors of East Rome, which later assumed the name Byzantium. Under Byzantium rule, Cappadocia was a frontier region subject to raids. The history of Christianity in the region was influenced by the atmosphere of insecurity. Frequent raids by attacking armies forced Christians to seek refuge in the underground cities and practice their religion in camouflaged rock churches.