Discovery of Plutos Gate

A digital recreation of the Ploutonion, or Plutos Gate, of ancient Greek and Roman mythology
recently discovered in Turkey. Picture: Francesco D'Andria.


Can you imagine what this must have been like?!


Archaeologists have located a Ploutonion in the Hellenistic city of Hierapolis in Turkey. The Ploutonion or Pluto's Gate is an opening in the earth believed to be an entryway to the Underworld - like the one through which Hades took Persephone, or the one Orpheus used to find Eurydice.


The scientists discovered it by retracing an ancient thermal spring and found the opening still releases (potentially) lethal emissions of carbon dioxide, evidenced by the deaths of sparrows attracted to the warmth coming from the opening. They also excavated the remnants of a thermal pool, courtyard and a circular temple and columns with inscriptions dedicated to Pluto and Kore. Pilgrims would have gathered on the steps of the temple while priests stood at the portal and sacrificed bulls to Hades, with both pilgrims and priests alike experiencing visions and prophecies from the hallucinogenic effects of the fumes.


An article and very cool gallery of excavation pics (check out the statue of Hades):

http://news.discovery.com/history/archaeology/gate-to-hell-found-in-turkey-130329.htm

It is amazing some of the things that they find now that were believed to be mythological places in the past

Beautiful picture! Thank you for sharing.

Saesara wrote:Beautiful picture! Thank you for sharing.

I agree. My mother actually believes that it's the gateway to hell. I'm laughing my head off thinking about it. My mother really needs to read a book.