mythology Discovered: Mythical

[Crisp]

Discovered: Mythical ?gate to hell? emitting deadly fumes

The Necropolis in the ancient city of Hierapolis, now known as Pamukkale in Turkey. A poisonous cave celebrated as the portal to the underworld in Graeco-Roman mythology and tradition has been unearthed in the Turkish town

WASHINGTON: Italian archaeologists have discovered the ruins of an ancient mythological cave in Turkey, believed to be the "gate to hell" emitting fatal carbon fumes.

Described as Pluto's Gate, the cave was celebrated as the portal to the underworld in Graeco-Roman mythology and tradition.

Historians located the site in the ancient Phrygian city of Hierapolis, now Pamukkale, describing the opening as filled with lethal mephitic vapours, Discovery News reported.

"This space is full of a vapour so misty and dense that one can scarcely see the ground. Any animal that passes inside meets instant death," Greek geographer Strabo, who lived between 64 or 63 BC and about 24 AD, wrote.

"I threw in sparrows and they immediately breathed their last and fell," he added.

The finding was made by a team led by Francesco D'Andria, professor of classic archaeology at the University of Salento, who conducted extensive archaeological research at the World Heritage Site of Hierapolis.

"We found the Plutonium (Pluto's Gate) by reconstructing the route of a thermal spring. Indeed, Pamukkale's springs, which produce the famous white travertine terraces, originate from this cave," D'Andria said.

"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," D'Andria explained.

Small birds were given to pilgrims to test the deadly effects of the cave, while hallucinating priests sacrificed bulls to Pluto, the researcher said.

The ceremony included leading the animals into the cave and dragging them out dead.

Source

[Growled Member]

I never imagined it was real place.

[Rippleman]

makes you wonder who dug it, and framed it, and braced it. :)

[+Red King Subscriber²]

Religious People: 1

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[BobSlob]

If only you could bottle oxygen and somehow connect it to a mask to breath it, you'd be able to explore this cave... oh well, a man can dream. =(

[CloudEngineer]

If only you could bottle oxygen and somehow connect it to a mask to breath it, you'd be able to explore this cave... oh well, a man can dream. =(

maybe sometime in the future we can come up with this technology and see whats really in/down there! :laugh:

[Jim K Global Moderator]

Sounds like a puzzle for the newly elected pope to solve.

[Buttus]

If only you could bottle oxygen and somehow connect it to a mask to breath it, you'd be able to explore this cave... oh well, a man can dream. =(

that's just crazy talk!

[THolman Veteran]

makes you wonder who dug it, and framed it, and braced it. :)

Might be a natural structure, maybe with some man made ornamentation on the front?

[Nothing Here]

Oxygen in a bottle?!?! Your mad I say!!! MAAAADD!!!!

[dvb2000]

I never imagined it was real place.

Hell was never lost, its in Jerusalem, immediately to the west of Mt. Zion.

aka Gehenna

[LUTZIFER]

Cool.

[Vykranth]

A cave with deadly atmosphere? There is already one in Mexico: it is called Cueva de Villa Luz or Cave of the Lighted House.

http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/0105/feature4/zoom1.html

Just inside the cave?s main entrance a natural skylight illuminates a pool. About two dozen skylights perforate the roof of the cave, allowing toxic gases such as hydrogen sulfide and carbon monoxide to exit and be diluted by fresh air coming in. More than 20 subterranean sulfur springs throughout the cave react with oxygen to form sulfuric acid, which eats away at limestone and is rapidly enlarging the cave.

There are dangerous caves with increased amounts of carbon dioxide or lakes containing sulfuric acids near volcanos.

Near the Mid-Atlantic ocean ridges, there is a thriving fauna in deep condition

http://www.nature.com/ncomms/journal/v1/n8/full/ncomms1124.html

Religious People: 1

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[Som]

makes you wonder who dug it, and framed it, and braced it. :)

probably was a mine and they dug too far and hit a gas mine or something similar

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[AsherGZ]

Nope. Hell exists but not on earth.

[MikeChipshop Member]

Religious People: 1

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Science: 100 trillion

[ngc891]

Nope. Hell exists but not on earth.

Never been to Sheffield then...

[drlacus]

probably was a mine and they dug too far and hit a gas mine or something similar

The first thing that came to my mind was this

http://www.hark.com/the-lord-of-the-rings-the-fellowship-of-the-ring/you-fear-to-go-into-those-mines