The 7 Christians Who Slept 309 Years in a Turkish Cave
Holy Koran tells the story of 7 Christians, plus their dog
One of the most interesting archeological sites to visit in Turkey is a location called “The Seven Sleepers” — known as “Eshab-ı Kehf” in Turkish since their story is told in the 18th chapter (surah) of the Holy Koran named “Kehf.”
More than one Turkish city claims that the Seven Sleepers slept for 309 years in their town: Karaman, Kahramanmaraş, and Izmir. There are similar caves in Jordan, China (Uigur region), Azerbaijan, etc. as well.
I visited the one in Izmir (very close to Ephesus) with mixed emotions.
Mixed Emotions
First, there is that sense of time-lost-irretrievably in the background that I feel for all archeological remains.
People were here once upon a time, and now they are gone, swept away with the broom of time, never to return again.
We’ll also be gone in due time. So in a sense, I’m perhaps looking at my own future as well.
That’s the first emotion I get when I visit an ancient site.
Secondly, there are all these details that add authenticity to this strange tale of seven people plus their dog sleeping in a cave for 309 years.
“This is not just a fairy tale —no matter how crazy it sounds, this stuff probably did happen!” is the message that rings in my ears at a site such as The Seven Sleepers.
The Curious Tale
They were early Christians in the 2nd century AC and they were forced to renege their religion and adopt Paganism by the Roman Emperor Gaius Messius Quintus Traianus Decius (c. 201 AD — June 251 AD) who made a name for himself with his persecution of Christians.
The seven were given a deadline to change religions but instead, they hid away in a cave rather than reject their Christian beliefs. And in his infinite mercy, as the story goes, the good Lord put them to sleep safely for over three centuries.
The Names
They might be totally fictitious characters but we do know the names of these Seven Sleepers:
Malta
Malchus
Martinianus
Dionysius
Yohannes
Serapion
Konstantinus
Other sources mention the names Maximilian, Iamblicus, Martinian, John, Dionysius, Exacustodianus, and Antoninus.
In Islamic sources they are known as:
Debernuş
Mesliha
Kafeştateyyuş
Sazınuş
Mekselina
Mermuş
Yemliha
Plus their dog Kitmir.
Another Version
This story, available in both Christian/European and Islamic/Eastern traditions, has more than one variety.
In another version, Emperor Decius issues an ultimatum for his subjects (among them The Seven) to abnegate Christianity in favor of Paganism.
The Seven reject the Emperor's order and hide in a cave.
The Emperor's men seal off the entrance of the cave with a wall after which The Seven fall into a deep sleep.
When they come to, they feel hungry.
They send Yemliha (Iamblicus) to town to buy something to eat.
But when Yemliha tries to buy bread from a local bakery, he realizes he is still carrying old coins minted at the time of Decius (249–251) whereas they are then living during the times of Theodosius II (408–450) when Christianity was not banned anymore.
He goes back and tells his friends that they must have slept for over 200 years! Islamic sources claim they slept for 309 years.
Following this revelation, all The Seven decide to go back to sleep again, after which they never wake up.
So goes the tale…
Other Sources
This story is narrated by various Islamic and European sources.
Other Similar “Seven Sleeper” Caves
There are other caves around the world where the same legend is believed to have taken place. Here are some of them…
A Melancholic Legend
A melancholic legend shared by multiple cultures that one wishes were true despite the scientific impossibility of anyone living for 200 or 309 years.
When you visit Turkey, make sure to stop by the cave of the Seven Sleepers to reach your own judgment.