The legend of the ‘seven sleepers’ involves seven boys who were persecuted by the Roman Emperor Trajan, then escaped to a cave and slept there for 309 years. Many people believe this is the cave referred to in the story. Inside the main cave, also known as Ahl Al Kahf (Cave of the People), are eight smaller tombs that are sealed, though one has a hole in it through which you can see a collection of human bones. The caves were discovered in 1963 as a result of some excavation work. The place has a very intense old Byzantine ambience. Check out the engravings on the walls outside the cave. Also, note the weathered decorative elements, including the massive pillars. It is thought that there may have once been a large church in front of the cave. Another interesting fact about the cave is the sheer variety of artifacts found—from the Canaanites, the Semites, the Akkadians, the Assyrians, the Babylonians, the Persians, the Byzantines, and the Turks. Above and below the cave are the remains of two mosques. About 500m west of the cave is a large and slightly Byzantine cemetery.
Amman
