At the archaeological site of Ephesus, a well-paved road heading east of the Vedius Gymnasium leads to the Cave of the Seven Sleepers, about .8km (1/2 mile) away.
History
The “Seven Sleepers” were seven young men who had been walled up in a cave during the persecutions under Decius (c.250). They fell asleep, miraculously waking up around 435 in the time of Theodosius II.
The seven men wandered into the city of Ephesus, amazed at all the churches and the freedom of worship for Christians. The Sleepers later died naturally (and permanently) and were buried in the cave in which they had slept.
The miracle was apparently first described by Bishop Stephen of Ephesus (448-51). It seems to have been immediately accepted, perhaps in part because of its usefulness for a current Origenist controversy having to do with the resurrection of the body. Interestingly, the Seven Sleepers also appear in the Qur’an (Koran); in this version, the boys are accompanied by a dog (Sura 18).
The grotto associated with the Seven Sleepers, located on the eastern slope of Panayirdag hill, became a highly venerated site and a major place of pilgrimage from the 5th to 15th centuries. Many people were buried in the grotto with the Sleepers. A brick church was built above the seven original tombs, with mosaic floors and marble revetments. A large, domed mausoleum was added to the cave in the 6th century.
Excavations were carried out in the Grotto of the Seven Sleepers between 1927 and 1930. Intriguingly, the archaeologists discovered that the cave complex predates the legend by several centuries. An abundance of lamps found in the Grotto date from before the 5th century, and not all of them are Christian.
What to See
The Grotto of the Seven Sleepers is fenced off, but a large hole in the fence currently provides full access to the cave. The site is a bit off the beaten track, but still visited by many pilgrims and tourists. There is a small restaurant nearby.
The main part of the complex is the cave church in which the Seven Sleepers slept and were buried. The large cave, with a ceiling as high as many regular churches, has been lined with brick masonry to form a church. There are arch niches on the sides and a rounded apse in the back. The burial places of the sleepers in the floor are now open, empty holes.
Although it cannot be appreciated at the site, one of the most interesting aspects of the Grotto is the treasure trove of terracotta lamps that was discovered inside.
They date primarily to the 4th and 5th centuries. Most of the lamps are decorated with a cross; others bear scenes from the Old Testament popular with Christians, such as Adam and Eve, Abraham and Isaac, and Daniel in the lions‘ den. There are also a wide variety of secular scenes, such as fishermen and theatre performances.
But alongside these are pagan religious scenes such as Hercules and the lion, Zeus and Aphrodite, pictures of temple facades, and the head of the god Attis. Were these lamps made and used by Ephesians who considered themselves Christians but retained pagan traditions, or did pagans join Christians in devotions at the Cave of the Seven Sleepers? The answer is not clear, but either way it is evidence that paganism was still alive in 5h-century Ephesus.
Get in
You can walk from Selcuk to Seven Sleepers Cave. Approx three km from Selcuk.
As you walk into the site from Selcuk, a road to the right is marked for the House of Virgin Mary, turn right and after 200 meters turn right again. Welcome to Grotto of the Seven Sleeper.
There’s really nothing to see here. the grottos are nothing more than holes dug out of the hilside. it’s all fenced up, so you couldn’t really walk around even if you wanted to. plus, if you’re coming back from ephesus, these “ruins” are a bit of a letdown.
why visit then? well, there’s a big restaurant (or a combination of a bunch of small restaurants… a turkish food court?) at the parking lot of the grotto. AWESOME gozleme (pancakes), the best ones we had in our entire 3-week turkey trip. great ayran (yogurt drink), too. i don’t know the exact name of the restaurant, or i’d be posting this review on their page.
The area contains the graves of the locals and is a resting place for many. Read up on legend before you visit. Has decent Restuarant next to it. Great place to spend hot afternoon
Since we had a car, needed a break from the heat and had a few minutes to spare, we followed the signs and made the short drive to the site of the Cave of the Seven Sleepers. If you enjoy climbing a rocky hillside, enjoy the views and the structures before descending for a meal under the pine tree…
Before going here, I’d recommend that you read on the history, as at the site there are no explanations. Many tourists come here with high expectations (especially after Efes) and leave disappointed. If you know what you’re looking at, the caves are quite interesting and a must see.
Seven Sleepers of Ephesus in a Christian version of a widespread story, martyrs immured in a cave near Ephesus during the persecutions by Decius (c.250). Long afterward, in the 5th cent., they awoke (as from sleep) and were taken before Theodosius II, Roman emperor of the east. Their story reassured the emperor, who had been wavering in his faith. The youths returned to their cave, to sleep again until Judgment. The story, thought to be of Syrian origin, was popularized by Gregory of Tours. Feast: July 27.
Located on the northern slopes of Mount Pion along the road that goes around the hill is the Grotto of the Seven Sleepers which was discovered by both Christians and Muslims. According to Christian legend, seven young men were walled in during the reign of Decius (250 AD) but were seen alive in the streets of Ephesus during the reign of Theodosius II some years after the Council of Ephesus (431 AD). In the Koran, it is claimed that the sleepers slept 309 years in their tombs. A church was built above this Grotto by the Christians. During excavations in the area, the church and several tombs have been excavated. Some inscriptions about the Seven Sleepers can be found on the walls of the church.
Agree with other views here re. The nature of this mound of rubble fenced off. Not nearly as impressive as Ephesus, but the advantage of this site was the lack of tourist tat, and its worth visiting just for the local restaurants which have the truly Turkish atmosphere and experience.
It was upsetting to see the place in a poor and neglected condition.
This is a free to visit area. Nothing much to see here though as most of the area has been sealed off by metal bars. No explanations at the site too to detail the history of the place. Supposedly, it was a place where 7 person woke up after many hundreds of years to realise that the environment and times…
This is one of those sights that if you have an interest in religious history, and if you know what you are going to look at, then the experience is unforgetable and very meaningful, but if it's a tourist stop you are just doing because someone pointed it out while you were already on your trip and you thought it…