Seven Sleepers

The necropolis is inside a natural cave to the north of Ephesus. The Christian myth about seven sleepers tells that seven young Christians, accompanied by their dogs, hid in this cave from the oppression of pagans in Emperor Decius era, (250-253 AD) and slept for 200 years before they woke up during Emperor 2nd Theodosius’ time (408-450 AD). The names of the seven people were, Maximilian, Lamblicus, Martinian, John, Dionysus, Exacustadianus and Antaninus. In the Islamic versions the name of the dog is Kıtmir and is believed that it followed its companions to heaven.