The Cave of Zeus () is a

show cave A show cave—also called tourist cave, public cave, and, in the United States, commercial cave—is a cave which has been made accessible to the public for guided visits. Definition A show cave is a cave that has been made accessible to ...

located in Kuşadası,

Aydın Province Aydın Province () is a Provinces of Turkey, province and Metropolitan municipalities in Turkey, metropolitan municipality of southwestern Turkey, located in the Aegean Region. Its area is 8,116 km2, and its population is 1,148,241 (2022). T ...

, in the

Aegean Region The Aegean region () is one of the 7 Geographical regions of Turkey, geographical regions of Turkey. The largest city in the region is İzmir. Other big cities are Manisa, Aydın, Denizli, Muğla, Afyonkarahisar and Kütahya. Located in w ...

of western Turkey. The cave is within Dilek Peninsula-Büyük Menderes Delta National Park, immediately west of the town of Güzelçamlı in Kuşadası district. It is situated about west of the national park's entrance at Dilek Peninsula. The cave is reached by a long slippery, stoney trail southwards. The cave's mouth is hidden from view, as it is covered with trees, plants and flowers. The cave can be accessed from the district's center of Kuşadası via dolmuş, which shuttle the route to and from Güzelçamlı regularly. The cave was formed as a result of a

sinkhole A sinkhole is a depression or hole in the ground caused by some form of collapse of the surface layer. The term is sometimes used to refer to doline, enclosed depressions that are also known as shakeholes, and to openings where surface water ...

eroding a kalk formation by a

subterranean river A subterranean river (also known as an underground river) is a river or watercourse that runs wholly or partly beneath the ground, one where the riverbed does not represent the surface of the Earth. It is distinct from an aquifer, which may flow ...

. Its base has the shape of a pool. The blue-green colored carbonated

mineral water Mineral water is water from a mineral spring that contains various minerals, such as salts and sulfur compounds. It is usually still, but may be sparkling ( carbonated/ effervescent). Traditionally, mineral waters were used or consumed at t ...

of the cave is a brackish mixture of

spring water A spring is a natural exit point at which groundwater emerges from an aquifer and flows across the ground surface as surface water. It is a component of the hydrosphere, as well as a part of the water cycle. Springs have long been important f ...

from the mountain and salty seawater. The deep pool attracts the attention of local and foreign visitors year-round for bathing and swimming. The cave is deep and wide with a length of . According to

Ancient Greek mythology Greek mythology is the body of myths originally told by the ancient Greeks, and a genre of ancient Greek folklore, today absorbed alongside Roman mythology into the broader designation of classical mythology. These stories concern the ancient ...

Zeus Zeus (, ) is the chief deity of the List of Greek deities, Greek pantheon. He is a sky father, sky and thunder god in ancient Greek religion and Greek mythology, mythology, who rules as king of the gods on Mount Olympus. Zeus is the child ...

, the Olympian ruler of the skies, used to hide in the cave to escape the fury of his brother

Poseidon Poseidon (; ) is one of the twelve Olympians in ancient Greek religion and mythology, presiding over the sea, storms, earthquakes and horses.Burkert 1985pp. 136–139 He was the protector of seafarers and the guardian of many Hellenic cit ...

, the ruler of the seas after Zeus angered him. Poseidon, in his wrath, would unleash very high waves and other dangerous water conditions with his

trident A trident (), () is a three- pronged spear. It is used for spear fishing and historically as a polearm. As compared to an ordinary spear, the three tines increase the chance that a fish will be struck and decrease the chance that a fish will b ...

. As a popular habit, visitors tie a cloth piece on a wishing tree next to the cave's mouth in the hope that their wish comes true.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cave of Zeus, Aydin Show caves in Turkey Landforms of Aydın Province Tourist attractions in Aydın Province Kuşadası Zeus Places in Greek mythology

See also

References