Walkway at the Ploutonion at Hierapolis
The Ploutonion is another set of ruins at Hierapolis, a UNESCO World Heritage site. The main feature of this place is the cave for which this place as named after. The cave emits carbon dioxide which can cause asphyxiation to the unwary visitor. This is why the cave was named as the Ploutonion or the Gate to the Underworld. The god of the underworld is Hades or Pluto to the Romans. I don’t know if it possible to visit the cave. I would see signs for the cave but I can’t see anything. I know that this area is still geologically active because of the warmth of the waters at nearby Pamukkale but I don’t know if it is still toxic. Either way, I don’t think the park authorities would allow people to enter the cave anyway lest something happens.
Ruins at the Ploutonion at Hierapolis
It is a little hard to imagine what this place was before. Most of the structure has collapsed and the only one standing here is what I think a reproduction of the old statue of the god Pluto. I would hear about temples being built for the other Greek or Roman gods but I think this is the first one I have seen dedicated to Pluto or Hades. There is a walkway around the ruins with signs describing what is here. Honestly, I wasn’t that interested since much of the place is in ruins.
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