CAPPADOCIA HISTORY

Cappadocia is the region that emerged when the soft layers formed by lava and ashes erupted by Erciyes, Hasandağı and Göllüdağ 60 million years ago were eroded by rain and wind over millions of years.

The name of Cappadocia is the oldest BC. it appears in Persian sources in the 6th century. The origin of this name, known as “Katpatuka”, is uncertain. Some experts have suggested that it means “Low Country” in the Luwian language. But later researches show that the adverb “katta”, meaning “down, below”, is Hittite, and the Luwian equivalent is “Zanta”.

The History

Human settlement dates back to the Paleolithic period. The lands inhabited by the Hittites became one of the most important centers of Christianity in later periods. Houses and churches carved into the rocks have made the area a huge shelter for Christians fleeing the oppression of the Roman Empire.

Today, the region called Cappadocia is a region where its geographical formations are concentrated in an area of 250 km² and spread to the provinces of Kırşehir, Niğde, Aksaray and Kayseri, especially Nevşehir. The most visited regions are; Uçhisar, Göreme, Avanos, Ürgüp, Derinkuyu, Kaymaklı and Ihlara.