Archaeologists believe they’ve discovered the Roman Gate to Hell, a mythological cave where any person would die within a matter of minutes. Located in Hierapolis, Turkey, the cave is believed to be about 2,200 years old. Based on Roman historical records, the opening was commonly used as a place to sacrifice animals on holy days. According to the myths, smoke would arise from the cavern to smother the animal. Priests claimed the mist came directly from Hell to take the animal’s soul. It was allegedly so powerful, that even nearby birds would drop dead from the sky. Traitors and dangerous criminals were also taken to the cave to die.
Modern researchers have discovered that the mist is actually a high dose of carbon dioxide, which would prove fatal to man and beast. Seismic activity in the area created cracks in the ground that released the gas deposits, which were large enough to take decades or even centuries to deplete.
So, several thoughts. What if this were a real Gate to Hell? That’s much more interesting to us. In contrast, what other myths could be explained by modern science?
