Karaftu, Ancient cave complex in Divandarreh County, Iran
The Karaftu cave system consists of natural limestone formations with artificial chambers cut into rock between Saqqez and Divandarreh.
Dating to the 3rd or 4th century BC, the cave complex functioned as a Seleucid garrison and contains one of Iran's rare preserved Greek inscriptions.
The Greek inscription at the entrance of a third-floor room reads 'Herakles resides here, nothing evil may enter', leading to its designation as Heracles Temple.
The cave entrance stands 20 to 25 meters above surrounding hills, with certain sections requiring small boats for exploration due to water presence.
The complex features a four-story architectural structure carved inside the mountain, incorporating rooms, hallways, and corridors created using only hand tools.
Location: Divandarreh County
GPS coordinates: 36.26667,46.85000
Latest update: March 15, 2025 00:27
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