Ozkonak Monastery

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Part of the series on Eastern Christianity
Eastern Christianity Portal
History Byzantine Empire Crusades Ecumenical council Great Schism
Traditions Assyrian Church of the East Oriental Orthodoxy Syriac Christianity Eastern Orthodox Church Eastern Catholic Churches
Liturgy and Worship Divine Liturgy Iconography
Theology Apophaticism - Filioque clause Miaphysitism - Monophysitism Nestorianism - Panentheism Theosis This box: view • talk • edit

Özkonak Underground City Built on the northern slopes of Mt. Idis about 14 km northeast of Avanos, this underground city has lots of strata made up of volcanic granite. The larger areas of the city are connected to each another by tunnels. Ozkonak had a built in communication system of pipes to each of it's levels, unlike Kaymakli and Derinkuyu which have no such communication systems. Each carved out rooms had ventilation provided by holes when the city was closed up against enemies.

Ozkonak was discovered in 1972 by a local farmer named Latif Acar. Latif Acar got curious about where his excess crop water was disappearing to. Latif discovered an underground room which, when later excavated, revealed a whole city which could house an incredible 60,000 people for up to three months. Although now only four are open, the complex contains a total of 10 floors, to a depth 40m.

Unlike the other underground cities in this area, besides the rolling stone doors, there were holes above the tunnels used for dumping hot oil on the enemy. Just like Kaymakli and Derinkuyu, Ozkonak has a water well, ventilation system, winery and moving stone doors.