The underground cities of the Byzantine Empire - Veronica Kalas

Prevoditelj: Leona Grujić Recezent: Ivan Luka Sabolović

The breathtaking geological formations of Cappadocia

Geološke formacije Kapadokije oduzimaju dah i

present one of the most astonishing landscapes on Earth.

jedan su od najveličanstvenijih krajolika na svijetu.

Also known as fairy chimneys,

Poznati i kao vilinski dimnjaci,

these sturdy stone cones were created by massive volcanic eruptions,

ovi čvrsti kameni stošci stvoreni su u masovnim vulkanskim erupcijama

which poured countless tons of ash across what would eventually become

koje su prosule nebrojene tone pepela duž područja koje će s vremenom postati

part of central Türkiye.

dio središnje Turske.

Over millions of years,

Milijunima godina,

that volcanic fallout hardened into a porous rock known as ignimbrite,

taj vulkanski pepeo stvrdnjavao se u poroznu stijenu zvanu ignimbrit,

which was sculpted by centuries of wind and rain

koju su stoljećima klesali vjetar i kiša

into the colorful spires we see today.

dok nisu stvorili živopisne tornjiće koje vidimo danas.

But this impressive terrain hides an equally remarkable feat

Ali ovaj impresivni krajobraz krije uistinu nevjerojatan pothvat

of pre-modern engineering:

predmodernog inženjerstva:

a network of extensive underground cities stretching deep below the surface.

mrežu ekstenzivnih podzemnih gradova koji sežu duboko u podzemlje.

Archaeological work on these mysterious ruins only started in the 1960s,

Arheološka istraživanja ovih tajanstvenih ruševina počela su tek u 1960-ima

so researchers still have many unanswered questions.

pa istraživači imaju još mnogo neodgovorenih pitanja.

But they have been able to determine some of the basics.

Ali uspjeli su utvrditi neke osnove.

Cappadocia’s underground settlements date back to the Middle Ages

Podzemna naselja Kapadokije sežu u razdoblje Srednjeg vijeka

when the region was part of the eastern territories of the Byzantine Empire.

kad je ovo područje bilo dio istočnih teritorija Bizantskog Carstva.

Throughout the 7th and 8th centuries,

Tijekom 7. i 8. stoljeća,

this border region was frequently under siege from Arab invaders,

ovu pograničnu regiju često su opsjedali arapski osvajači,

which may have led locals to seek refuge underground.

što je možda natjeralo stanovnike da potraže utočište pod zemljom.

Initially, archaeologists assumed these subterranean cities and sanctuaries

Isprva su arheolozi pretpostavljali da su ove podzemne gradovi i skloništa

were created by Greek-speaking Orthodox Christian monks

stvorili pravoslavni redovnici koji su govorili grčki

due to the numerous Byzantine churches and copious religious imagery.

zbog mnogobrojnih bizantskih crkava i obilja vjerskih slikarija.

But further investigation revealed intricately designed layouts

Ali daljnja su istraživanja otkrila složene tlocrte

and elements of domestic architecture

i elemente kućne arhitekture

that could only have been produced by master masons.

koje su mogli izraditi samo vrhunski zidari.

Typically, these craftsmen would have built such structures

Obično su ti zanatlije gradili takve strukture

with brick and stone,

od opeke i kamena,

but under the surface they carved their designs directly into the rock.

ali ispod površine su ih isklesali ravno iz kamena.

All these complexes were connected by stairs and tunnels

Sve te komplekse povezuju stubišta i tuneli

which could be sealed off with large boulders for protection.

koji su se mogli zapečatiti golemim kamenim gromadama za zaštitu.

Residents dug deep enough to reach the water table,

Stanovnici su kopali dovoljno duboko da dopru do vode,

ensuring their access to water during lengthy sieges.

što je jamčilo zalihe vode tijekom dugih opsada.

And vertical ventilation shafts connect these cities to the sky,

Vertikalne cijevi za ventilaciju spajaju te gradove s nebom,

circulating cool, fresh air to the residences inside.

dovodeći hladni, svježi zrak u podzemne kuće.

In addition to living spaces,

Uz prostore za život,

these dwellings had wine presses, cooking areas, and stables for livestock.

imali su i preše za vino, kuhinje i štale za stoku.

Some chambers even offered old-fashioned lavatories,

Neke su odaje čak nudile i starinske zahode,

where waste could be washed into deep pits or covered with lime.

u kojima se otpad bacao u duboke jame ili prekrivao vapnom.

Normally, this approach would still have left some stench,

Obično bi to za sobom ostavljalo smrad,

but the region’s absorbent volcanic rock

ali apsorbirajuće vulkanske stijene

helped maintain a dry and odor-free environment.

pomogle su održati okolinu suhom i bez mirisa.

The rock’s composition also helped ensure stable temperatures throughout the year,

Sastav stijena također je održavao stabilnu temperaturu cijele godine,

making these spaces ideal for long-term living and food storage.

što je činilo ova mjesta idealnim za dugotrajni boravak i skladištenje hrane.

By the 11th century, the Byzantine Empire secured its eastern frontier,

Do 11. st., Bizant je učvrstio svoju istočnu granicu

bringing peace and stability back to the region.

i u regiji su opet zavladali mir i stabilnost.

But rather than abandoning their underground settlements,

Ali umjesto da napuste svoja podzemna naselja,

locals expanded them into the landscapes above.

lokalno stanovništvo ih je proširilo na površinu.

Building directly into the region’s rocky cliffsides,

Zidari su klesali izravno u klisure u regiji

stoneworkers skillfully carved dwellings with open courtyards

i vješto izdubili nastambe s otvorenim dvorištima

and adorned their entrances with elegant facades.

i ukrasili ulaze s otmjenim fasadama.

Numerous churches were also carved from the rock,

Brojne crkve su također isklesane iz kamena,

all designed in the standard architectural styles of the Byzantine Empire

a sve su slijedile standardne bizantske arhitektonske stilove

during the 9th to the 11th centuries.

od 9. do 11. stoljeća.

This included simple structures with altars and apses

Ovo je uključivalo jednostavna zdanja s oltarima i apsidama,

as well as intricate designs featuring columns and domes.

kao i složene građevine sa stupovima i kupolama.

And on the inside, many showcased vibrant wall paintings

Iznutra su mnoge od njih bile prekrivene živopisnim zidnim slikarijama

depicting detailed Christian iconography.

koje su prikazivale detaljnu kršćansku ikonografiju.

These paintings are still visible today,

Te su slikarije vidljive i danas,

making Cappadocia one of the most significant repositories of Byzantine art

što čini Kapadokiju jednim od najvažnijih izvora bizantske umjetnosti

in the world.

na svijetu.

But while these paintings and stony structures endured,

Ali iako su slike i kamena zdanja preživjeli,

their inhabitants were forced to move on.

ljudi koji su ih nastanjivali morali su otići.

It’s believed that the Byzantines started vacating the region

Smatra se da je Bizant počeo napuštati regiju

when the Seljuk and Ottoman Turks took hold of it in the late 11th century.

kad su je Seldžuci i Otomani osvojili u kasnom 11. st.

Over the following centuries,

Tijekom stoljeća koja su uslijedila,

local farmers and villagers used these spaces for storage and squatting,

seljaci su koristili ove prostore kao skladišta i mjesta za skrivanje,

and there's evidence of some inhabitants as recent as the early 20th century.

a ima dokaza da je netko boravio u njima još u 20. st.

However, in the past few decades,

Međutim, u posljednjih nekoliko desetljeća,

these cities have been recognized as international heritage sites

ovi gradovi su prepoznati kao svjetska kulturna baština

requiring care and preservation.

o kojoj treba brinuti i očuvati je.

This designation has earned them government protection

Ta titula im je osigurala državnu zaštitu

and attracted both curious researchers and tourists

i privukla znatiželjne istraživače i turiste

eager to explore their labyrinthine passageways.

koji su su željeli istražiti njihove labirinte.

Derinkuyu, which stretches up to 85 meters below the ground,

Derinkuyu, koji se pruža 85 metara ispod zemlje,

and Kaymakli are the two best known and most visited.

i Kaymakli dva su najpoznatija i najposjećenija grada.

But Göreme, Ihlara, and many other valleys

Ali u Göremeu, Ihlari i mnogim drugim dolinama

are where you can see the finest preserved churches,

možete naći najbolje očuvane crkve,

all with spectacular Byzantine architecture and wall paintings.

pune spektakularne bizantske arhitekture i zidnih slikarija.

And as researchers continue to excavate these sites,

Istraživači nastavljaju iskapanja

they'll undoubtedly uncover even more secrets from this buried history.

i nesumnjivo će otkriti još više tajni ove pokopane povijesti.