History of Cappadocia

A Journey Through the History

Cappadocia is an ancient region in east-central Anatolia situated on the Taurus Mountains. History reports Cappadocians occupied a part from Mount Taurus to the Black Sea. In the late Bronze age, Cappadocia was called Hatti – the Hittite homeland power centred at Hattusa. The decline of the Syro-Cappadocians after the defeat by the Lydian King Croesus in the 6th century BC, Cappadocia fell into the power of the feudal aristocracy. Cappadocians became strong castle dwellers keeping the peasants in a servile condition. Later, they were made ideal for foreign slavery. Darius established the third Persian Satrapy but continued to be governed by their rulers. None of the rulers had power over the whole country and, more or fewer tributaries, of the Great King.

Cappadocia originated from the Old Persian word Kappadokia which means “land of the beautiful horses”. Some associate the name with the horses in the ancient inscription alongside the Cappadocians. It was a tradition to present horses as gifts or taxes to the Persian King.

After the reign of the Persian empire, Alexander the Great ruled the area with the help of his military power. But Ariarathes declared himself as the King of the Cappadocia. Ariarathes I became a successful ruler as he extended the kingdom until the Black Sea. The kingdom of Cappadocia lived in peace till the death of Alexander. Then empire was divided into several fragments, and Cappadocia fell into the hands of Eumenes. The claims of Eumenes were made good by the regent Perdiccas, who crucified Ariarathes. Due to the death of Eumenes, Ariarathes II, the adopted son of Ariarathes I, recovered his inheritance and left it to his successors. But his successors mostly bore the name of the dynasty.

This marvellous land underwent years of geographical events and civilisations to evolve into what it is today. Inhabitants transformed the regional structure into several houses, rock-cut settlements, churches, monasteries and underground cities. It has been home to several civilisations beginning from the Stone age.