Cave of the Seven Sleepers, Ephesus

The Seven Sleepers, located on the back slope of the mountain where the ancient city of Ephesus is located, is a religious center thought to be built in the 5th and 6th centuries AD. It is claimed to be one of the caves of Eshab-ı Kehf. Rumor has it that seven young people, who escaped from idolatry and took refuge in the foothills of Mount Panayır, fell asleep before they were accepted as the official religion of Christianity. When they woke up two centuries later, they saw that Christianity was the official religion. 7 young people who are considered to be sacred because of this miraculous event are buried in this cave.

Nowadays, the excavations are quite large monumental buildings and most of the rock carvings were found in the grave and two churches and catacombs. There are 33 places on Earth claiming that the Seven Sleepers are within their borders. In most Christian sources, this Seven Cave of Cave is passing through Ephesus as the main cave.