Cehennemağzı Caves

The Cehennemağzı Caves (Cehennemağzı Mağaraları) are located in the city center of the Ereğli district. A total of three caves were utilised during the Roman periods. Currently, the caves are designated as a historical site. They were referred to as Akheron (Acheron) Caves in archaeological sources and Cehennem Ağzı Caves (the Caves of Hell Mouth) among the locals. CaveChurch - Kilise Cave is a natural rock-cut cave. It was used as a Christian shrine during the Eastern Roman periods; in the early days of Christianity, the religion was not officially accepted by the Roman Empire, thus the early Christians worshiped in this cave secretly. Heracles Cave According to legend, Hercules/ Heracles (Herkül), who came here during the legendary Argonaut Campaign in 1200 BCE, completed in this cave the most difficult of the 12 tasks ordered by King Eurystheus. Hercules entered the cave and descended to the underground realm of the god Hades (the god of the underworld). From there, Hercules brought back Cerberus, the three-headed dog guarding the entrance of the underworld, to the world. The city was named Heracleia Pontica (Black Sea Ereğli) after Hercules, as he completed his twelfth mission in the cave, thereby saving the Mariandiyns, the inhabitants of Ereğli at that time, from tyrant rulers. Ayazma Cave Ayazma / Holy Spring Cave has a wide entrance and two halls. In one of the halls is a lake once considered sacred. The lake was also used as a cistern, providing the region’s water needs. In the area on the left side of the entrance, classical music performances are organized.