Scientists are trying to solve the mystery of the ancient “Gate of Hell”

2018-02-19 22:02

Scientists are trying to solve the mystery of the ancient “Gate of Hell”
The so-called “gate to hell” has been found in many places in the Mediterranean.

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A group of scientists from Germany and Turkey found an explanation of how the priests in Ancient Roman times, managed to pass unharmed through the “gate to hell” in a time when sacrifice animals dropped dead without any human intervention, reports Rus.Media.

The so-called “gate to hell” has been found in many places in the Mediterranean. They were generally near the temple. Scientists believe that the mysterious deaths is the geological explanation.

The researchers studied the stone entrance to a small grotto in the ancient city of Hierapolis (Pamukkale), is located on the territory of modern Turkey. The gate to hell was made in one of the walls that surround a rectangular arena. There was a temple and places for visitors.

Structure called the Plutonium 2.2 thousand years ago was located in a geologically active zone. It was believed that the local thermal springs possessed healing properties. At the same time, through a rift in the Hierapolis were thrown out carbon dioxide. In the dump site, according to archaeologists, was built the “gate to hell”.

In 2011, researchers reported that they are still active. Fly too close to them birds fell down and died.

Now a group of specialists under the direction of hardy Panza from the University of Duisburg — Essen was looking more closely at the source and measured the level of carbon dioxide.

It turned out that in the daytime the Sun dispels carbon dioxide. At night, its concentration was much higher. According to scientists, the most dangerous for living beings the bottom of the arena was at dawn, when the level of carbon dioxide at a height of 40 cm from the floor reached 35%, which is sufficient to cause death of the animal, and even man within a few minutes. However, increasing the distance to the floor the concentration of CO2 fell significantly.

According to the researchers, the priests likely made sacrifices in the late evening or in the morning. The animals were sacrificed, was not high enough so they can avoid the influence of carbon dioxide. The growth of priests allowed them no harm to stand in the arena. Scientists suggest that people could even be on the rocks.

The Greek historian Strabo wrote that the priests could approach the “gates of hell”. He explained their immunity castration.

Pfanz believes that the priests were careful not to come very close to the gate, approaching them only about noon.

This opinion is not accepted by archaeologists from the University of Solento, opened the Plutonium in Hierapolis in 2011. They found many ancient lamps in the vicinity of the “gate of hell”, which, according to Italian experts, shows that the priests came here and night, despite the dangerous levels of carbon dioxide.