Cappadocia

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Cappadocia (Nevşehir Province), from the Persian Katpatuka meaning "the land of beautiful horses", is an extensive inland district of Asia Minor (modern Turkey) and a UNESCO World Heritage Site[1]. It is a region of exceptional natural wonders, characterized by Dali-esque chimneys and cones hollowed from the soft volcanic rock known as tuff, with a unique historical and cultural heritage.

Miscellaneous facts

• Cappadocia contains several underground cities - such as Kaymaklı and Derinkuyu - largely used by early Christians as hiding places but still inhabited during the Byzantine period. The Christian communities in the region took refuge closing millstone doors when they were subjected to the Arab raids, which started in the 7th century. The cities consist of several levels beneath ground level, and only small areas are open to the public[2].

• If the Angel of Darkness story arc had been continued, there would have been a level set in a Cappadocian underground city[3]

• Cappadocia is mentioned twice in the Bible, namely Acts 2:6-11 and 1 Peter 1:1-2[4] The Nephilim are also mentioned twice, namely Genesis 6:3-5 and Number 13:32-33.

• Cappadocia was known as Hatti in the late Bronze Age, and was the homeland of the Hittite Empire (ca. the 18th century BC) [5]