Cennet and Cehennem Chasmsvisitor guide.

A NATURAL AND HISTORICAL VISUAL SPECTACLE Located 25 km from Silifke town center, 2 km northwest of the Ancient Port of Narlıkuyu, and 5 km west of Korykos (Kızkalesi). These are natural sinkhole (chasm) formations created as underground waters dissolved the limestone layer over centuries, draining the interior water and causing the undermined ceiling structure to collapse. CENNET (HEAVEN) SINKHOLE One of two naturally formed wonders, the elliptical Cennet chasm opening measures 250 x 110 meters across its mouth. The formation has a depth of 70 meters, and on the southern side of its floor lies the entrance to a vast cave 200 meters long with a deepest point of 135 meters. At the entrance to the cave stands a small rectangular church built of ashlar stone blocks. The church is reached via steps. Reaching the bottom of the sinkhole requires descending 450 steps. CEHENNEM (HELL) SINKHOLE Located 75 meters north of the Cennet chasm. Its rim measures 75 x 50 meters. Because the outer rim of the chasm is concave, descending into this chasm is not possible. It has a depth of 128 meters. According to Greek mythology, after Zeus defeated the fire-breathing hundred-headed dragon Typhon in a battle here, he imprisoned him for a time in the Cehennem chasm before banishing him forever beneath Mount Etna. VIRGIN MARY CHURCH Constructed east-west at the mouth of the cave inside the Cennet Sinkhole with ashlar stone blocks, a rectangular plan, and a flat roof. There are six arched window openings each along the north and south long facades of the building. A four-line inscription above the entrance door on the western side of the church indicates that the church was dedicated to the Virgin Mary by a devout individual named Paulus. The eastern apse of the church and the monks' cells flanking both sides of this apse are covered by domes. The dome of the apse and the interior walls are adorned with frescoes. The frescoes depict Jesus and his apostles. The church structure dates to the 5th century AD. TEMPLE OF ZEUS Located at the southern edge of the Cennet chasm. The temple's initial phase dates to the Hellenistic period. Built in the Doric order, the non-in-situ stones on the temple's northern wall bear inscriptions with the names of 130 priests who served during the Hellenistic and Roman periods. The temple was converted into a church during the Christian era. The southern wall of the temple no longer survives. DOWNLOAD MUSEUM BROCHURE NEARBY MUSEUMS MERSİN MAIDEN'S CASTLE (KIZKALESİ) KANLIDİVANE ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE SİLİFKE ATATÜRK HOUSE AND ETHNOGRAPHY MUSEUM SİLİFKE MUSEUM SİLİFKE NARLIKUYU MOSAIC MUSEUM SİLİFKE ASTHMA CAVE