Seven Sleepers Cave

MERSİN

The Seven Sleepers Cave is sacred for both Muslims and Christians.

Eshab-ı Kehf, which was depicted in Kehf section of the Koran, is also known as “Seven Sleepers Cave” in public. Though there are various speculations for the place of the cave, Islamic scholars agree that the cave is located in Tarsus. One can enter the cave, which is sacred for both Muslims and Christians, by descending the stairs consisting of 15-20 steps.

According to a legend, “Seven Sleepers” refers to a group of seven youths who escaped a persecution of Christians being conducted during the reign of the Roman emperor Decius. Yemliha, Mekseline, Mislina, Mernuş, Sazenuş, Tebernuş and Kefeştetayuş, who escaped from torture since they believed in one God, hid inside a cave and fell into a deep sleep with a dog (Kıtmir) along with them. The people, who eventually realized that they were in the cave, weaved the gate of the cave, leaving them to death.

One day, the Seven Sleepers awoke, imagining that they had slept one day, and sent Yemliha to Tarsus to buy food. Upon arriving in the city, Yemliha was astounded to find the city completely changed; and when he wanted to buy a bread, the baker said the coins he had were not valid anymore. Yemliha immediately turned back to the cave and told it to his friends. They eventually understood that they actually slept for 309 years. Not knowing what to do, the Seven Sleepers finally fell into an eternal sleep.

Catholics commemorates this myth on July 7 each year. According to Orthodoxies, the Seven Sleepers entered the cave on August 4 and woke up on October 22 centuries after. For Muslims, on the other hand, there is not a specific date to commemorate it. So, the cave is visited each season of the year.