Steeped in myth and history, sites from Israel to Belize to Ireland have been seen in history as possible gates to hell. Some were places of human sacrifice, others were caves filled with toxic gases, and places of iconic pilgrimages.
One such site is the Plutonium in the ancient city of Hierapolis, Turkey. The ruins of Hierapolis hold one of the strangest mysteries: the Plutonium, an entrance to a cave where animals died instantly from invisible vapors. Modern studies revealed that the cause of the deadly vapors was highly concentrated carbon dioxide rising from a volcanic fissure. The ancient philosopher Strabo wrote, "[The] space is filled with a cloudy and dark vapor, so dense that the bottom can scarcely be discerned. Animals which enter... die instantly... Even bulls, when brought within it, fall down and are taken out dead. We have ourselves thrown in sparrows, which immediately fell down lifeless." Despite the deadly vapors, priests at the Plutonium remained unharmed. Scientists determined that the black smoke in the cave was due to carbon dioxide, which kills animals and small birds. The Plutonium, also known as Pluto's Gate, is like a gas chamber.
Mount Hekla in Iceland is known as the furnace of hell and the chimney of hell by medieval Christians, Hekla erupted over 20 times in the past thousand years, making it one of Iceland's most active volcanoes. In 1104 CE, Hekla erupted with a Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI) of 5, covering more than half of Iceland with rock and ash. Cistercian monk Herbert de Clairvaux wrote in 1180 CE: "The renowned fiery cauldron of Sicily, which men call hell's chimney... that cauldron is affirmed to be like a small furnace compared to this enormous inferno," claiming that Mount Hekla was more deadly than Mount Etna in Italy. The Icelandic word "hekla" refers to a short, hooded cloak, hinting at the shroud of clouds that surround the top of the mountain. Evidence from ancient times suggests that lava bombs weighing up to 12 tons were seen hurtling through the air during Hekla's eruptions. Since the 11th century, eruptions of Mount Hekla have been associated with punishment for sinners, and one monk referred to it as the eternal prison of Judas.
The Valley of Gehenna, located just outside the walls of Old Jerusalem, has historically been associated with sacrifices where Baal was worshipped. The name Gehenna comes from the Hebrew Ge Hinnom, Valley of Hinnom, and in ancient times, it was known for child sacrifices to appease the Ammonite god Molech. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus mentioned Gehenna, and it was believed that criminals and those who did not receive a respectable burial were thrown into the valley. For the inhabitants of the ancient world, throwing a body into Gehenna was considered the most humiliating punishment. New Testament scholar Bart Ehrman wrote in Time: "In the ancient world (whether Greek, Roman or Jewish), the worst punishment a person could experience after death was to be denied a decent burial. Jesus developed this view into a repugnant scenario: corpses of those excluded from the kingdom would be unceremoniously tossed into the most desecrated dumping ground on the planet."
Human remains have been found in the Actun Tunichil Muknal (ATM) cave in Belize, also known as the Cave of the Stone Sepulcher, which held remains of Maya sacrifice victims. Discovered in 1989, the ATM cave contains artifacts, including skeletons of children and adults who were bludgeoned to death. Many skeletons of sacrificed people have been found there, some covered in calcium, which makes them shiny. A famous skeleton from the ATM cave is known as the Crystal Maiden, believed to be a 17-year-old boy who was possibly sacrificed; the bones have calcified to have a sparkling, crystallized appearance.
In ancient times, St. Patrick's Purgatory on Station Island in Lough Derg, County Donegal, Ireland, was considered the end of the world. Legend has it that the cave was the site of a revelation for St. Patrick, and the monastery of Saint Patrick became a symbol of purification and retribution. The 12th-century historian Gerald of Wales believed that if someone spent the night in these pits, they would be attacked by ghosts. While some descriptions of the cave from early pilgrims give an idea of what it looks like, it has been closed since 1632 and never excavated.
The article was written with the assistance of a news analysis system.