Cave of the Seven Sleepers
A Cave in the Footsteps of the Legend
Near the ancient city of Ephesus in İzmir, at the foothills of Mount Panayır, lies a mysterious site: the Cave of the Seven Sleepers. This cave is traditionally regarded as the place where the famous legend of the Seven Sleepers—beloved in both Christian and Muslim traditions—took place. According to the tale, seven young men, who embarked on a great adventure for the sake of their faith, fell into a long slumber within its depths.
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The Legend of the Seven Sleepers
The legend begins during the reign of the Roman Emperor Decius. Seven young men who professed the Christian faith refused to offer sacrifices at the temple where the emperor was deified. Faced with the threat of death, they took refuge in a cave. The emperor ordered the entrance to be sealed. The youths then fell into a deep sleep.
Centuries passed. When they awoke, they believed no time had elapsed. One of them, named Quiriacus, went into the city to buy bread. But the ancient coins he carried attracted attention, and it became clear that the youths had slept for exactly 200 years. Christianity had by then become the official religion of the empire. After recounting this miracle, the seven young men returned to sleep and never woke again.
The Companions of the Cave in the Islamic World
Muslims know this event as the story of the Eshab-ı Kehf recounted in the Kahf Sura of the Quran. There, it is told that seven young believers, along with their faithful dog Katmir, fled from a tyrannical ruler and took shelter in a cave, where they slept for 309 years.
One of the sites in Türkiye believed to be the Cave of the Companions of the Cave is located in the district of Tarsus in Mersin. A staircase leads down into the cave, and above it stands a mosque built in the 19th century. This site is considered sacred by both Muslims and Christians.
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Other Caves of the Seven Sleepers in Türkiye
Caves believed to be associated with the Seven Sleepers are not found only in Ephesus and Tarsus but also in Afşin in Kahramanmaraş and Lice in Diyarbakır. Each site tells the legend according to its own local traditions.
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