The underground cities of the Byzantine Empire - Veronica Kalas

譯者: Lilian Chiu 審譯者: SF Huang

The breathtaking geological formations of Cappadocia

卡帕多奇亞令人 嘆為觀止的地質構造，

present one of the most astonishing landscapes on Earth.

是地球上最驚人的景觀之一。

Also known as fairy chimneys,

這些堅固的石錐被稱為精靈煙囪，

these sturdy stone cones were created by massive volcanic eruptions,

是大規模的火山噴發所造成的，

which poured countless tons of ash across what would eventually become

噴發導致無數噸的火山灰灑遍 後來土耳其中部的部分區域。

part of central Türkiye.

Over millions of years,

數百萬年來，

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

那些掉落的火山灰硬化成 一種多孔的岩石，

稱為火成岩，

which was sculpted by centuries of wind and rain

經過數世紀的風雨雕塑，

into the colorful spires we see today.

成為我們現今看到的彩色尖錐。

But this impressive terrain hides an equally remarkable feat

但這種令人印象深刻的地形 背後還藏著同等不凡的

of pre-modern engineering:

史前工程壯舉：

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

一個廣大的地下城市網，

在地底深處延伸。

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

針對這些神秘遺跡的 考古工作到 1960 年代才展開，

so researchers still have many unanswered questions.

因此研究人員仍有許多 未解答的問題。

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

但他們已經能夠確定一些基礎知識。

Cappadocia’s underground settlements date back to the Middle Ages

卡帕多奇亞的地下居住地 可追溯到中世紀，

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

當時該地區是拜占庭帝國 東部領土的一部分。

Throughout the 7th and 8th centuries,

在第七和第八世紀，

this border region was frequently under siege from Arab invaders,

這塊邊境地區經常被 阿拉伯侵略者圍攻，

which may have led locals to seek refuge underground.

這可能導致當地人往地下尋求庇護。

Initially, archaeologists assumed these subterranean cities and sanctuaries

最初，考古學家認為 這些地下城市和庇護所

were created by Greek-speaking Orthodox Christian monks

是由說希臘語的東正教 基督教修士所創建，

due to the numerous Byzantine churches and copious religious imagery.

因為那裡有許多拜占庭教堂 和豐富的宗教圖像。

But further investigation revealed intricately designed layouts

但進一步的調查發現一些精心的設計

and elements of domestic architecture

和家居建築元素

that could only have been produced by master masons.

只有大師級的石匠才可能做得出來。

Typically, these craftsmen would have built such structures

通常，這些工匠會用磗塊 和石頭來建造這類建築物，

with brick and stone,

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

但在表面下，

他們將他們的設計直接雕刻在岩石上。

All these complexes were connected by stairs and tunnels

所有這些建築群 都用階梯和隧道相連，

which could be sealed off with large boulders for protection.

通道皆可用巨石 封閉起來，提供保護。

Residents dug deep enough to reach the water table,

居民挖掘得夠深，深及地下水位，

ensuring their access to water during lengthy sieges.

確保他們遭受長時間 圍城攻擊時仍能取得供水。

And vertical ventilation shafts connect these cities to the sky,

垂直的通風井連結了 這些城市和天空，

circulating cool, fresh air to the residences inside.

讓涼爽新鮮的空氣 能流通到城內的住宅。

In addition to living spaces,

除了生活空間外，

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

這些住宅還設有壓酒池、 烹飪區和家畜畜舍。

Some chambers even offered old-fashioned lavatories,

有些房間甚至有提供老式的洗手間，

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

排泄物可以沖入深坑中 或用石灰掩蓋。

Normally, this approach would still have left some stench,

通常，這種方法 仍然會留下一些惡臭，

but the region’s absorbent volcanic rock

但該地區的吸水性火山岩

helped maintain a dry and odor-free environment.

有助於讓環境保持乾燥且無異味。

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

岩石的組成成分也有助於 確保全年的溫度都很穩定，

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

讓這些空間非常適合 長期生活和存儲食物。

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

十一世紀時，拜占庭帝國 確保了其東邊界的安全，

bringing peace and stability back to the region.

將和平和安定帶回該地區來。

But rather than abandoning their underground settlements,

但，當地人不但沒有 放棄他們的地下居住地，

locals expanded them into the landscapes above.

還將它們拓展到地面上的景觀中。

Building directly into the region’s rocky cliffsides,

住宅是直接建造在 該地區的多岩懸崖峭壁上，

stoneworkers skillfully carved dwellings with open courtyards

石匠很有技巧地雕刻出開放式庭院，

and adorned their entrances with elegant facades.

並將入口裝飾得很高雅。

Numerous churches were also carved from the rock,

許多教堂也是從岩石雕刻出來的，

all designed in the standard architectural styles of the Byzantine Empire

全都用拜占庭帝國九到十一世紀的

during the 9th to the 11th centuries.

標準建築風格來設計。

This included simple structures with altars and apses

這種風格包括簡單的結構， 有祭壇和半圓壁龕，

as well as intricate designs featuring columns and domes.

以及特色為柱子和圓頂的複雜設計。

And on the inside, many showcased vibrant wall paintings

許多教堂的內部都有生動的壁畫，

depicting detailed Christian iconography.

精緻地描繪出基督教的聖像。

These paintings are still visible today,

現今仍然可以看到這些繪畫，

making Cappadocia one of the most significant repositories of Byzantine art

讓卡帕多奇亞成為世界上 最重要的拜占庭藝術寶庫之一。

in the world.

But while these paintings and stony structures endured,

但，雖然這些繪畫 和石頭結構持續存在，

their inhabitants were forced to move on.

它們的居民卻被迫繼續離開。

It’s believed that the Byzantines started vacating the region

據信，拜占庭人 開始退離該地區的時間

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

是十一世紀末塞爾柱人 和鄂圖曼土耳其人領該地區時。

Over the following centuries,

在接下來的幾個世紀中，

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

當地農民和村民用這些空間 來做存儲和居住，

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

有證據顯示，到二十世紀初 這麼近的時期還有人居住在那裡。

However, in the past few decades,

然而，在過去幾十年中，

these cities have been recognized as international heritage sites

這些城市已被認定為國際遺產，

requiring care and preservation.

需要照顧和保護。

This designation has earned them government protection

這個名號讓它們取得了政府的保護，

and attracted both curious researchers and tourists

並吸引了好奇的研究人員

及渴望探索這些迷宮通道的遊客。

eager to explore their labyrinthine passageways.

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

向下延伸達八十五公尺的德林庫由

and Kaymakli are the two best known and most visited.

以及凱瑪克萊是最知名 且最多人造訪的兩個地方。

But Göreme, Ihlara, and many other valleys

但在戈瑞梅、伊赫拉和許多其他山谷

are where you can see the finest preserved churches,

則可以看到保存得最好的教堂，

all with spectacular Byzantine architecture and wall paintings.

全都有壯觀的拜占庭 建築式樣和壁畫。

And as researchers continue to excavate these sites,

隨著研究人員持續挖掘這些地點，

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

無疑地，他們一定會發現更多 關於這段被埋沒的歷史的秘密。