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If you know of any other interesting  underground sites...

...please Contact-Us with references.

 

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     Underground Constructions: (Form and function).

There are several known examples of ancient underground complexes ...

...and a great many more rumoured to exist.

 

Featured Underground Sites:

 

Apart from the obvious benefits of protection, underground sites served as symbolic entrances to the underworld, as demonstrated by the 'sybill's' of ancient Greece, who invariably frequented natural openings in the ground for their oracle centres. The Greeks used to place 'Omphalus' over smaller 'entrances to the underworld'. The same traditions exist throughout megalithic Europe and around the ancient world.

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The 'Lost Labyrinth' of Hawara, Egypt.

It was recently announced that the lost labyrinth of Egypt at Hawara has been re-discovered by an expedition funded by NRIAG, Ghent University/Kunst-Zicht & Louis De Cordier, with the cooperation of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, Horus Foundation & Isel Foundation.

The Great Labyrinth of Egypt.

This colossal temple was described in the past by authors such as Herodotus and Strabo, and was said to contain 3,000 rooms full of hieroglyphs and paintings. When Petrie first discovered the great artificial stone surface (304m by 244m) in 1889, at the depth of several meters, he interpreted it as the foundation of the labyrinth. New evidence suggests that the stone plateau may in fact be the roof of the great complex.

(Click here for more about this exiting new discovery)

 

 

The Hypogeum, Malta.The Hypogeum, Malta.

 - This underground spectacular takes one straight to the heart of the prehistoric psyche. It includes features such as carved trilithons, spirals, 'speaking' chambers, and the possible use of 'Ergot'. These fantastic chambers reek of ritual and mystery.

The Hypogeum is orientated so that the 'holy of holies' inside faces the equinoxial sun. Such a feature, combined with the discovery of several thousand skulls, makes it extremely likely that the site was used as a connection to the afterlife.

(More about the Hypogeum)

 

A second hypogeum (The Hypogeum II), has now been discovered on Gozo (next to Malta), it is directly under and in the centre of the prominent  Xaghra stone circle.

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  The Osireion (Strabo's Well), Abydoss, Egypt.

The Osirion, 'Strabo's well', Abydoss, Egypt.

This fantastic underground structure dates back to the earliest roots of  dynastic Egypt. The stark, unadorned masonry can only be seen in one other place in Egypt; The 'Valley-temple' beside the Sphinx at Ghiza.

It is noticeable that while the Osirion at Abydoss is connected to Osiris through myth (being the resting place of his 'Phallus', which was swallowed by cat-fish...),  the Valley-temple at Ghiza on the other hand,  is associated with Isis through the 'Inventory stele', found inside the temple, which says of Khufu...

He found the house of Isis, Mistress of the Pyramid, by the side of the hollow of Hwran (The Sphinx)

 

The water of the Osireion is connected to the Nile, meaning that it creates a 'moat' around the central 'island' when the waters are down. The rock is cut deep into the waters so that the bottom is not visible in places.

(More about the Osireion)

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Derinkuru complex, Turkey.

Derinkuyu, Turkey

 

- This underground city is one of five in the area that connect together, making an underground complex with the potential for 100,000 people. The 'city' has apartments, running water, air-conditioning, and large doors roll across the entrances, locking from the inside, presumably protecting the inhabitants from...???       

These unique underground cities are currently being excavated and access is restricted. We would welcome any eye-witness or photographs of this site...

 

 

(More about Derinkuyu)

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Chavin du Huntaar, Peru.

Chavin du Huntaar, Peru

 

 

- This ancient site (dated at 800 BC), includes a network of underground tunnels at the heart of which sits this monolith, called El-Toro ('The Bull'). The fully decorated stone stands at 4.5m high and the top protrudes through the ceiling and into the room above.

This classic 'Chavin' site also includes other great feats of masonry, including cyclopean masonry (a 30 ft long lintel) and several similarly carved standing stones.

(Click here for more)

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Other Underground sites.

 

Location - Cuenca, Equador. - Vast tunnel network. (17).

 

Location – Columbia. San Augustine. - Underground sanctuaries with connecting passages. (18).

 

Location – Mexico. Cholula. - Underground Temple with connecting passages. (18).

 

Location – Peruvian Andes, Huascaran, 22,203 ft high, near the village of Otuzco. 

Cave entrances closed with slabs of rock. First recorded by Francis Pizzaro (1478-1541). An expedition was organised in 1971, an account of which was given in the periodical ‘Bild der Wissenschaft’.

“Vast tunnels which would leave even modern underground constructors green with envy began behind six ‘doors’. These tunnels lead straight towards the coast, at times with a slope of 14 per cent. The floor is covered with stone slabs that have been pitted and grooved to make them slip-proof. It is an adventure even today to penetrate these 55 to 65 mile-long transport tunnels in the direction of the coast and finally reach a spot 80 ft below sea level. The great ocean lurks at the end of the underground passage of ‘Guanape’, so called after the island that lies off the coast of Peru here, because it is assumed that the passages once led under the sea to the island. After the passages have gone uphill and downhill several times, and after a downhill slope, they end in ocean water". (18).

(More about ancient peru)

Location - India. Kanheri, near the Malabar coast. 

The ‘Rock Temples’, consisting of 48 ft high caves, blasted from granite they run several stories deep. The ceilings are supported by granite pillars, carved from the rock. Decorated in relief. (18).

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 The 'Rough Guide' to ancient sites from around the world.

References:

17). E. Von Daniken. In Search of Ancient gods. Corgi. 1976
18). E. Von Daniken. According to the evidence. Corgi. 1997.

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