LYCOS RETRIEVER 
Cappadocia
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Many settlements in Cappadocia were established primarily as monastic communities. As Bishop of Caesarea Mazaca in the 4th century, St. Basil the Great wrote the rules for monastic life that are still followed by monks and nuns of the Greek Orthodox Church. He advocated community life, prayer and physical labor rather than the solitary asceticism that was popular at the time and it was under his guidance that the first churches were built in Goreme Valley. Here, a number of small communities with their own churches formed the large monastic complex that is now the Open Air Museum. Hundreds of churches are reported to have been built in this valley but no churches from St. Basil's time remain. In Goreme, the Tokali Kilise or the "Buckle Church" is easily the loveliest of the churches with graceful arches and beautiful frescoes.
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Cappadocia is the ancient name of a remarkable region in Central Anatolia. It is a geological wonderland and can be viewed from three aspects, namely natural, historical and religious. The unusual and exciting formation of Cappadocia has had this appearance for millions of years as a result of gradual erosion of volcanic tufa. The region’s history goes back to the 19th century B.C., starting with the Assyrian traders. Then between 1750-1200 B.C., lower Hittite Kingdom was formed in Cappadocia, followed by the Persian, Roman, Byzantine, Seljuk and Turkish periods. Christianity came early to Cappadocia.
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Flights of fancy aside, Cappadocia has sheltered humans since the late Paleolithic era. The Kizilirmak River provided water, fish and fruit trees, while the caves made home-building simple. Need an extra room? Get scraping with a lump of obsidian. Today the crude gouges are still visible in the chambers.
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Cappadocia has so much to offer in terms of nature, history, and culture, that a visitor should plan for at least three days to fully appreciate the area. Urgup, a growing small town with shops, restaurants, and quaint hotels, is a good central location to stay during your visit of Cappadocia.
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After the death of Alexander in 323 BC, administration of Cappadocia fell to the dynasty of Ariarathes. His family line would rule the kingdom until 93 BC, and were responsible for the establishment of positive relations with Rome. Under Ariarathes IV, Cappadocia supported Rome in the early 2nd century BC against Perseus of Macedonia, son of Philip V. Having won the faith of the growing power of Rome, the Cappadocians remained on favorable terms with independent status for the next two centuries. They aided Rome against the Seleucids of Syria and later took part in a great defeat against Aristonicus of Pergamum. Instability in the region, and the rise of Mithridates of Pontus, brought war to the entire Asian world, and the Cappadocians fought valiantly in defense of their own independence. Pompey's final victory established new independence for Cappadocia in 63 BC under a new dynastic King, started by Ariobarzanes.
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The history of Cappadocia begins some 60 millions of years ago, when the corrugating motion of the earth’s crust led to the raising of the Tauern chain. These telluric motions were accompanied by volcanic eruptions right throughout the area; the three tall peaks that dominate the region – The Volcano Erciyes (3916 meters), The Volcano Hasan (3268 meters) and Gollu dag – were active volcanoes; these volcanoes are still active, even though they have not erupted since the dawn of history as prehistoric and Roman records reefers to legendary eruptions. However the volcanoes of Cappadocia must have been active 8000 years ago as the frescoes of a city plan from a house in Catalhöyük, a Neolithic settlement dated to 6500 B.C. near Konya in central Turkey. In addition to the European Alps, the Taurus mountains of southern Anotolia were formed during the Tertiary period of geological development. During the “Alpine period" of mountain-building, deep fissures and large depressed areas were created The fracturing process allowed the subsurface magma to find to find its way to the surface where it formed the Erciyes, Melendiz, Golludag, and Hasan Dagi eruption cones. After numerous eruptions these cones increased in size and formed a chain of volcanoes running parallel to the Taurus mountains.
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