The Cave of the Seven Sleepers is a Byzantine-era necropolis located near the ruins of ancient Ephesus. It is related to a legend from early Christianity when Christians were persecuted by the Roman authorities. When Emperor Decius, known for persecuting Christians, came to Ephesus, he ordered the destruction of Christian temples and the worship of Roman gods. Seven Christian youths who did not want to betray their faith hid in a nearby cave. The Romans found the hiding place and walled up the entrance, hoping that the trapped people would starve to death. However, this did not happen, because the young men fell into a 200-year sleep. When the persecution of the Christians stopped, they woke up and returned to the city to buy something to eat. However, the coins they wanted to pay with have long been out of circulation. They also learned that Decius had died centuries ago. They told their story, which was immediately considered a miracle.
