Inside the ancient Roman Hades’ Gate dubbed the real ‘portal to the underworld’ after deaths of people and animals who get too close
The allegedly supernatural spot in Turkey has reportedly killed those who defied the gods
MYSTERY surrounds an ancient Greek temple which has been dubbed a "portal to hell" after a spate of unexplained deaths.
For years any beast or bird that came near reportedly dropped dead amid claims they were killed by the deadly breath of the Greek god of the Underworld, Hades.
During ancient Greek and Roman times, people were also said to have been cut down if they dared to approach.
But now scientists believe a deadly gas could be seeping from the Earth's crust that could have caused the mystery deaths near the temples, tucked away in the ancient Phrygian city of Hierapolis.
Certainly, in the decades leading to the birth of Christ, it was described by the Greek geographer Strabo as deadly place to step foot in.
He wrote: "This space is full of a vapour so misty and dense that one can scarcely see the ground.
"Several birds died as they tried to get close to the warm opening, instantly killed by the carbon dioxide fumes."
He claims, pilgrims arriving at the site were given small birds to test the deadly effects of the cave.
Priests were said to have sacrificed bulls to Pluto while madly hallucinating from the toxic fumes.
Professor Hardy Pfanz, from the University of Duisburg-Essen, Germany, said the study detected highly concentrated levels of carbon dioxide.
He believes it is possible that the cave sits above the Badadag fault line which could release toxic gases from the Earth’s crust.
The study said: "In a grotto below the temple of Pluto, CO2 was found to be at deadly concentrations of up to 91 per cent.
"Astonishingly, these vapours are still emitted in concentrations that nowadays kill insects, birds and mammals."
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