There are around 3,000 cave churches in Cappadocia. They range from simple, undecorated spaces to elaborate, deep, cathedral-like churches with interiors covered in magnificent frescoes of biblical scenes, characters, and saints.
Christians first migrated to Cappadocia in the first century AD. They wanted solitude, an escape from the world’s temptations and troubles. So they dug their dwellings into the cliffs and fairy chimneys, high above the ground. Over the years, the Christian community grew, and they dug out churches and entire monastery complexes, covering their interiors with frescoes.
Dating a Cave Church By its Frescoes
It is not always possible to know when a cave church was first dug. However, the design of its frescoes—that is, the frescoes that can be seen—gives us an idea of when they were painted. However, we must consider that the artists sometimes plastered over previous frescoes and painted new ones.
This especially happened after the iconclastic periods. Many rather boring geometric designs were plastered over and painted with frescoes depicting Christ, the apostles, other people, and living creatures. So, in these cases, it is the fresco or frescoes under the plaster, peaking from the cracks, that give us an earlier and more accurate idea of when the church was first made.
Earliest Churches
The earliest frescoes painted in Cappadocia’s cave churches were simple depictions of humans and animals. They also included geometric designs, flowers, diamonds, and zigzag lines.
Churches During the Iconclasm
There were two iconoclastic periods: from 726 to 787 AD and from 814 to 842 AD. During these periods, Byzantine emperors forbade depictions of living things. Any frescoes depicting these things were plastered over, and the walls were repainted with plain geometric decorations, crosses, zigzag lines, diamonds, and rosettes, often in red.
Post-Iconclasm Churches
After the iconoclastic periods, the frescoes from the iconoclastic period were plastered over. New frescoes were painted with vibrant colors and elaborate designs, depicting the lives of Christ, the apostles, saints, people, and animals.
What Happened to the Eyes and Faces in Cappadocia’s Cave Church Frescoes?
Muslims were also iconoclastic. After moving to Cappadocia, some took shelter in abandoned cave churches. The new residents were surrounded by walls painted with people staring at them, so they would throw stones at the faces, especially at the eyes, in the frescoes.
Ken Grubb
I’m a retired US military investigator and crime scene specialist who has lived in Türkiye for over twenty years. I love learning about and investigating Türkiye’s ancient Christian sites. My archaeologist friends tell me that my old job is much like theirs!
