Turkish Archives
Turkey is a land where empires have risen and fallen, but the whispers of the past have never faded—where every stone seems to carry a story, and many of those stories are cloaked in mystery. Straddling two continents, Turkey is a crossroads not only of cultures but of the seen and unseen, the sacred and the strange.
In the heart of Cappadocia, beneath the alien landscape of fairy chimneys and honeycombed hills, lie vast underground cities like Derinkuyu and Kaymakli—carved deep into the earth, capable of sheltering thousands. Though archaeologists can explain much, locals still tell of passageways that seal themselves, tunnels that disorient even experienced guides, and whispers in airless chambers. Some believe these cities were not just built to hide from armies—but from something else entirely.
In Istanbul, where minarets rise beside Byzantine domes, the past feels hauntingly close. The Basilica Cistern, a dark lake beneath the old city, houses stone Medusa heads whose origins remain unknown, and whose eerie gaze has unsettled visitors for centuries. The Hagia Sophia itself, with its shifting light and centuries of transformation, is said to host ghostly chants heard in the early dawn—voices neither wholly Christian nor Muslim, but something older, still echoing in its vast dome.
In Turkey, history and myth do not compete—they coexist. From Sufi mystics who spun into trance, to ruins that still radiate forgotten power, this is a land where the ancient world lingers in the soil, in the silence, and in the stories told when the fire burns low.
Few figures in history loom as large as Alexander the Great. A military genius, a cultural icon, and a legend in his own time, Alexander conquered vast stretches of the known world before his untimely death at the age of 32 in 323 BCE. His empire stretched from Greece to India, his influence echoing through centuries of political ambition, military strategy, and philosophical thought. Yet for all his historical prominence, one of the greatest mysteries surrounding him endures: the location of his final resting place…read the whole story.
For centuries, the story of Atlantis, the advanced civilisation lost beneath the sea, has captivated the human imagination. First mentioned by Plato over two millennia ago, Atlantis has often been treated as pure myth. One of the more intriguing, and lesser-known, theories suggests that Atlantis may lie not in the Atlantic Ocean, as many have speculated, but beneath the waters of Turkey’s Marmara Sea…read the whole story.
Dating back over 11,000 years, Göbekli Tepe predates writing, agriculture, and the wheel. Its discovery has upended long-held assumptions about humanity’s early development and offers tantalising glimpses into the spiritual and social lives of our ancient ancestors…read the whole story.
In the shadow of the Pontic Mountains, tucked away in the northeastern region of Turkey, lies one of the country’s most mesmerising and mysterious natural wonders — Karaca Cave. Located near the town of Torul in Gümüşhane Province, Karaca Cave is celebrated for its breathtaking stalactites and stalagmites, dramatic chambers, and unique geological formations. But beyond its natural beauty, there exists a lesser-known enigma: the mysterious symbols found within its stone walls, puzzling archaeologists, historians, and spiritual seekers alike…read the whole story.
Mimar Sinan, the revered chief architect of the Ottoman Empire during the sixteenth century, is celebrated for the breathtaking grandeur and precision of his designs. His architectural genius is evident in iconic structures such as the Süleymaniye Mosque in Istanbul and the Selimiye Mosque in Edirne. These awe-inspiring monuments have withstood centuries of change, war, and weather, continuing to inspire admiration from around the world. Yet, behind their majestic domes and harmonious proportions lies an enduring mystery that has captivated historians, architects, and curious minds alike: did Mimar Sinan embed secret codes within his works?..read the whole story.
In the dusty towns and hidden valleys of Anatolia, stories older than time are passed from one generation to another, sometimes whispered in cafés, sometimes woven into lullabies. Among the countless legends that drift across Turkey’s rugged landscape, few have captured the public imagination as powerfully as The Myth of the Immortal Sultan — a tale that took a curious turn in the politically turbulent 1980s…read the whole story.
Turkey is a land steeped in history, legend, and unexplainable occurrences. Among its many enigmas, few have baffled scientists, journalists, and locals as much as the mysterious fire incidents that erupted in the small village of Ortaköy, located in the Çorum Province, during the 1980s. Known today as the Mysterious Fire of Çorum, this bizarre phenomenon sparked not just spontaneous blazes, but also a fierce national debate over the line between science and superstition…read the whole story.
In the coastal region of western Turkey, where the warm winds of the Aegean Sea drift through olive groves and sun-bleached ruins, lies one of the ancient world’s most enigmatic and powerful sacred sites: the Oracle of Didyma. Known in antiquity as the second-most important oracle after Delphi, Didyma was not merely a sanctuary of marble and myth, but a centre of divine communication where gods were believed to speak through chosen human voices…read the whole story.
Nestled in the eastern reaches of Turkey lies the stunning Lake Van, a high-altitude saline soda lake that spans an impressive 3,755 square kilometres, making it the largest lake in the country. Aside from its breathtaking natural beauty and historical significance, Lake Van is perhaps most famous for a creature that has captured the imaginations of locals and visitors alike: the Van Lake Monster…read the whole story.
Beneath the dramatic landscapes of Cappadocia, where volcanic rock formations rise like otherworldly spires and hot-air balloons drift lazily across pink-hued skies, lies one of the most astonishing secrets of ancient human ingenuity: the underground cities. These subterranean labyrinths, carved deep into the soft tufa rock of central Turkey, are among the most extraordinary architectural and archaeological feats in the world. Far from simple hideouts or temporary shelters, the underground cities of Cappadocia were vast, complex habitats capable of housing thousands of people…read the whole story.