Historical data has identified the site as belonging to the ancient Phrygian capital city of Hierapolis, now known as Pamukkale, and describes the gate as being shrouded in deadly poisonous vapor.Known as the "Gateway of Pluto," in Greek Ploutonion, or Plutonium in Latin, the newly discovered cave is believed to be a gateway to the underworld in Greek mythology.

“This place is filled with a kind of gas so dense that the ground is barely visible. Any animal that passes through that gate dies a sudden and unnatural death,” according to the Greek geographer Strabo (64-63 BC to around 24 AD).

He continued: "I threw the safe in there, and they immediately dropped dead," according to the news site.The Huffington Post.

A computer model of the gates of hell.

The discovery was announced at an archaeology conference in Istanbul, Türkiye, in a study led by Professor Francesco D'Andria of the University of Salento.

Dr. D'Andria conducted a large-scale archaeological project at the Hierapolis World Heritage site. Two years prior, he had also announced the discovery of the tomb of Saint Philip, one of the twelve apostles of Jesus Christ.

Founded around 190 BC by King Eumenes II (197 BC to 159 BC), Hierapolis fell to the Romans in 133 BC. Thus, the Hellenistic developed into a quintessential Roman city, complete with temples, theaters, and hot springs believed to possess miraculous healing properties.

"We discovered plutonium by recreating the flow path of the hot springs. In fact, the famous springs of Pamukkale all originate from this cave," according to expert D'Andria.

The area is now just a pile of rubble, most likely caused by an earthquake, and the more they excavate, the more relics scientists discover.Archaeologists have discovered stone pillars inscribed with praises to the gods of the underworld, Pluto and Kore.

D'Andria also discovered the remains of a temple, a pool, and a series of steps above the cave, all of which matched the long-standing descriptions of the "gateway to hell" in the books that had been passed down through generations.“Visitors can see the shrine from these steps, but they cannot get close to the cave entrance. Only the priests stand at the cave gate,” D’Andria explained.

According to archaeologists, the site also attracts many pilgrims who participate in activities that draw visitors in. They release small birds into the cave to experience the place's deadly atmosphere, while priests sacrifice cattle in the name of Pluto. The ceremony includes leading livestock into the cave and then dragging their carcasses out. All of this is due to the high concentration of CO2 in the area.

Only the eunuchs of Cybele—the goddess of fertility—were capable of entering the gate unharmed. They simply held their breath for as long as possible, thereby demonstrating that they had been granted divine power.

According to expert D'Andria, the toxic gases in the cave create hallucinations, attracting those who wish to temporarily possess the prophetic abilities of the goddess Delphi.However, like other places of worship, plutonium, after a period of great prosperity, gradually faded into oblivion and was destroyed by Christians in the 6th century.

Eventually, nature submerged the place with numerous earthquakes.

The Thanh