Scientists have finally unraveled the mystery surrounding the infamous 'Gate to Hell' in the ancient city of Hierapolis.
This gateway, believed to lead to the underworld, was long associated with unexplained deaths.
However, recent research has shed light on the true cause behind the fatalities, dispelling centuries-old beliefs and revealing a fascinating scientific explanation.
Hierapolis is known as the 'Gate to Hell’ because it caused countless unexplained fatalities
Hierapolis, an ancient city that existed in the 2nd century, had a door that people believed led to the underworld.
For a long time, it was widely thought that anyone who went through this door would die because of the lethal effects of 'Hades breath.'
This belief was reinforced by the writings of Strabo, an ancient Greek geographer, who described this mysterious place in his book, Geographica.
Strabo's writings described a misty and dense vapor that filled the space within the gateway, causing death to befall bulls and even small birds that entered.
The 'Gate to Hell' was believed to have been used for religious sacrifices, with animals being tossed into the abyss as offerings to underworld deities.
Curiously, castrated priests who dared to venture through the gateway were said to have survived.
Experts shed light on the secret of the 'Gate to Hell’
However, recent scientific research has uncovered the true culprit behind the deaths associated with the 'Gate to Hell.'
A team led by volcano biologist Hardy Pfanz from the University of Duisburg-Essen in Germany conducted an extensive study of the site in 2018.
Their findings revealed that the lethal element was not 'Hades breath,' but rather gas emissions from the Earth's crust.
The researchers measured the concentration of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the vicinity and discovered that during the day, when sunlight was abundant, the CO2 levels were relatively low.
However, at night, a "CO2 lake" would form near the lower levels of the gateway.
This indicated that previous sacrifices were likely made when CO2 levels were at their peak, and the animals thrown into the chasm were unable to escape the noxious gases due to their height.
The surviving castrated priests, on the other hand, were able to avoid the lethal gases because they were taller and could evade the dangerous fumes.
According to Pfanz, these priests were aware that the deadly breath of the mythical hellhound, Kerberos, had a limited reach.
