“It seems as though the city was made to protect themselves from something or somebody,” remarked James.
“Yes, there are two main hypotheses which are being looked into. Derinkuyu occupies an area of one and a half square miles, which could house ten thousand people for months. However, from the few kitchens that have been found - probably because they wanted to avoid the smoke from being seen from outside - together with a limited number of toilets with septic tanks, everything seems to indicate that it was designed for inhabitants to take refuge for short periods of time, maybe while they hid from possible attackers. They then used large blocks of stone, made from a much harder rock than that found inside the city, to cover up the entrances. Plus, a five-mile long tunnel was found to link Derinkuyu with Kaymakli, a neighboring town.”
“So, this city was designed to protect its inhabitants from possible invasions?”
“It’s a possibility, but I don’t think so. The subterranean cities were designed to provide shelter for a million people in total. It’s impossible that there were that many people in this region four thousand years ago, which makes us think that these ruins date back much further, to between nine and twelve thousand years before. There’s no historical proof of this, however.”
Richard smiled when Mary paused to take a long sip of coffee. Her mouth was running dry.
“Around that time, there was the famous climatic change which devastated all the continents. It is thought that the effect it had on Cappadocia was a severe drop in temperatures, which encouraged its inhabitants to build a place where they could take shelter from the inclement weather. That’s why it has the same, constant temperature of thirteen degrees on all levels. It functions independently of the temperature outside; it doesn’t matter whether it is snowing or sunny.”
“Fascinating,” said James, “but that doesn’t explain why they used hydraulic doors to lock themselves in.”
Richard sighed. “James, you are so difficult to convince! You throw obstacles at everything.”
Mary answered him. “Given that the area was being battered by inhospitable weather conditions, other more powerful peoples knew about the city and wanted to take refuge inside. If the citizens didn’t have any defense mechanism, they would be vulnerable and could end up being expelled from their land. Anyway, it’s also thought that the city was later often used by other cultures as a hiding place, even though they only occupied the upper levels and gradually forgot about the lower ones.”
“How many entrances could these cities have?”
“Well, it is believed that there could be around six hundred points of entry hidden in the most unexpected of places, even in the churches themselves. Remember that chipping away at the rock is relatively simple; the difficult part is creating the engineering necessary for everything to work as expected, especially if we’re talking about a civilization which existed over ten thousand years ago.”
“In other words, we could be looking at evidence that great civilizations throughout history have been affected by climate change, with many of them dying out as a result?”
“Yes,” confirmed Mary. “I think that the city described by Simone in his book may have existed and was possibly affected by the warm period, but even so, we shouldn’t discard the idea completely.” Mary took James’ hand and continued to speak. “If it doesn’t involve something so important, why have they tried to kill us twice?”
James knew his friend very well; he was pigheaded and always managed to convince him of his extravagant ideas. However, he had also discovered that Mary’s charms ran deeper than her beautiful face and her statuesque body, and that behind them was a very intelligent woman with forceful arguments.
“Okay, Richard. Tell us how we start the search,” said James in a show of enthusiasm.
Chapter 16
“The first chapter ends by drawing our attention to the start of the search, with the following paragraph: “
One of the grandest in the Christian city,
where standing nearby is a sin.
A familiar crest is hidden deep inside,
so may the hunt for the lost city begin.
Mary and James remained silent, thinking about a possible answer to the riddle he had given them.
“Obviously the first sentence is referring to a temple or Roman church, since Rome is the ultimate Christian city. In this case, the adjective grand is not referring to the size of the church, but to its significance.” Richard took out another piece of paper, this time from his shirt pocket, and continued with his train of thought. “There are a large number of churches in Rome, and as I still haven’t found out the meaning of the second line, I’ve written the most - “
James interrupted him. “I do know what it means and I think you’re making a mistake.”
Richard looked up, failing to understand what he could be talking about. For him, the text seemed quite clear.
“Taking it literally, the adjective grand in this case refers to something which is ‘major’. In Rome there is a series of churches, or rather basilicas, nicknamed the Major Basilicas. They are all characterized by having a Holy Door or Papal Altar, and include St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican, the Basilicas of St. Paul Outside the Walls and St. Mary Major and, finally, the Archbasilica of St. John Lateran.”
Mary was completely astonished at her friend’s powers of deduction, but she would be even more astonished at what came next.
“Meanwhile, I think the second line refers to the Holy Steps,” said James.
“Of course!” replied Richard, totally excited. “Now it’s obvious which basilica the book is referring to; it’s got to be the Archbasilica of St. John Lateran.”
The Holy Steps were ordered to be brought from Pontius Pilate’s palace in Jerusalem by St. Helena, mother of Constantine the Great, in the year 326. Jesus of Nazareth climbed up them to be tried on Good Friday, and today it is known as the holiest place in the world. The building which houses the staircase is close to the Archbasilica, and is filled daily with the faithful who climb up the staircase on their knees, since walking on them while upright is not permitted. The staircase is lined with frescoes which represent the kiss of Judas Iscariot, and Pilate handing over Jesus.
In order to preserve the steps, it has been encased in walnut timber to protect it from the continual worn away by pilgrims. However, some parts have been covered with glass, revealing the splashes of blood which are said to have come from Jesus Christ.
“I don’t know any other building in the whole of Rome that could match the description,” declared James with a smile. He had yet again proven himself to be sharper than his friend.
Mary got up from the table with the intention of settling the bill, but Richard guessed what she was going to do and dramatically stopped her by standing in the way.
“In my country it would be very rude to let a woman pay for two men’s drinks.” He searched for his wallet in his pocket and he couldn’t help but smile when he didn’t find it. “James, you pay while I go and pick up my things. I’ve left my money in the hotel.”
The night before, when Richard had requested a new room, the hotel was practically full. The only option was a suite that was unavailable and going to be refurbished in a few days. The receptionist had warned him about this, but never in the world did he expect such a mediocre room. The bed was extraordinarily small, with a very old and worn-out mattress. His body sunk into it, causing a constant sharp, pinching pain in his back; it was no wonder that he scarcely slept all night. On top of that, the bathroom’s wiring broke in the morning and it was virtually impossible for him to have a wash.
“Here we are,” he said after putting on his sunglasses and leaving the hotel.
In the quarter of an hour that he had been in his room, he had packed everything he believed to be indispensable into a small backpack. The most important thing was his laptop which he wouldn’t part with even if he were drunk, due to the vast amount of information he had stored on it
- never in the world would he have considered leaving it in an Italian hotel. He had stuffed the rest of his clothes into a suitcase and left it at reception, telling the staff that he would pass by later to pick it up, even though he actually had no intention of doing so.
Despite the Archbasilica being relatively nearby, they preferred to take a taxi but they later discovered that this wasn’t a good idea. It was almost three in the afternoon and the streets were full of people who were leaving work at that time.
In the front seat, Richard had the taxi driver deeply engaged in a conversation about the weather. Mary was leaning back next to James in the rear of the vehicle. She was upset and still quite nervous.
“Calm down, there’s no reason for you to worry. I think those two motherfuckers will be a long way away right now.” James gently took her hand and squeezed it tightly, trying to cheer her up. It was thanks to her that he was still alive.
“Here we are. You can drop us here.”
Access to the site was restricted for cars, with metal fencing preventing any vehicle which didn’t belong to the Church from entering. In spite of this, a couple of security guards kept watch over the entrances to ensure that tourists didn’t get through and park inside.
The taxi dropped them at the Piazza di Porta San Giovanni, right in front of the majestic building.
St. John Lateran is the oldest Archbasilica in Roma. Construction got underway in the third century, and ranks above all other major basilicas in Rome. It hold the honorific title of Omnium urbis et Orbis ecclesiarum Mater et caput, which means that it is ‘the mother of all churches in Rome and the whole world’, by virtue of being the episcopal office for the Primate of Italy, the Pope.
The baptistery (a small chapel devoted to performing the rite of Baptism) is a separate building with an octagonal floor. It is typical of baptisteries built in the early centuries, complete with a large basin in which the neophyte would be immersed.
There is an adjacent cloister with gardens and a series of arches, and the Lateran Palace, which today belongs to the Holy Father. In ancient times, the whole complex was the headquarters of the Pope and the ecclesiastical government until the papal court moved to Avignon in France. When the Popes reestablished their headquarters in Rome, they preferred to take up residence in the Basilica of Our Lady in Trastevere, before relocating to the Basilica of St. Mary Major and finally Vatican Hill, where the Holy See is currently located.
The Archbasilica is neoclassical in style, given that hardly any parts of the original basilica remain. The uppermost section features sculptures, among which are representations of Christ, John the Baptist and Evangelist, as well as the Apostles, created in a similar style to that found in St. Peter’s Basilica.
After getting out of the taxi, they crossed the path which led to the main doors and was flanked on either side by well-kept green lawns.
When they arrived at the doors of the church, they saw from the huge railings outside that they were closed to the public. Access was probably running according to a reduced timetable and it would be impossible to get in outside of visiting hours.
Right opposite the church doors were a number of stone benches. They headed over to one of them and sat down, hoping to find a possible solution. Disappointment again crept over James’ face; those who were chasing them were sure to have found out where they were and would now be making their way to Rome at top speed. Finding them would be complicated, but he was certain that they had the means to try and do so.
“What are we going to do now?” asked a devastated Mary as she looked at the magnificent facade of the building.
On the uppermost part, it read ‘CHRISTO-SALVATORI’. She knew that the Archbasilica was dedicated the Christ the Savior, despite it being better known by the name St. John Lateran. Something about those words caught the eye of the young archaeologist. The facade formed a triangle with a circle in the middle supported by two angels. It was breathtakingly similar to that on the cover of the book. We’re definitely on the right track.
“We have to get in somehow,” insisted Richard. “Maybe we could sneak into the Lateran Palace. What do you think, James?”
As he turned around, he saw that his friend was no longer there.
He found him running towards the door of the church. At that moment, a figure in religious vestments had just left by the palace door and was walking towards the Archbasilica steps. He took out a key from the right pocket of his habit which he then used to open one of the outer gates, before closing it firmly behind him.
James had just reached the entrance but he didn’t have enough time to stop the gate with his foot. “Excuse me, good man. I was wondering if you would be so kind as to allow my friends and I to see the basilica.”
The monk was inserting the second key, this time in one of the gigantic wooden doors which led inside. He turned around and faced James, talking to him through the railings. “I’m sorry sir, visiting hours are over. In a few days, we’ll have finished restoring some parts of the basilica which have deteriorated with the passage of time, and you’ll be able to have a look around then”
James was disappointed and desperate, so he lied. “Brother, we have come from afar and I am also a servant of the Lord, just like you. I first visited this church with my family when I was young and reckless. A few days later, after understanding the splendor of the Savior, I received his call. For me it would be an honor to show my fellow parishioners the great house of God which converted me. Today is our last day in this beautiful city. Please at least allow us to kneel before the Lord in one of his most illustrious houses.”
The monk hesitated for a moment, but eventually he realized that it would be rude of him to not answer a servant of God when he is asking for help. After the monk opened the door for him, James called over his friends and together they entered the basilica.
It was beautiful inside. A long aisle led to the altar, which was decorated with statutes of the twelve Apostles below huge windows, which gave the room extra light. The golden ceiling gave the Archbasilica a touch of grandiosity that was fitting for a Major Basilica in Rome.
“My friends, did you know that Pope Martin V is buried below the High Altar? The Holy Door of this church was first opened during his reign.” The monk pointed towards the altar while he looked at them curiously. Something didn’t add up. “I don’t want to stick my nose where it’s not wanted, but you should have worn your vestments. That way, I would have known you were priests and I would have let you in.”
Both Richard and Mary turned towards James, realizing why they had been allowed to enter. He had lied, a dirty yet effective ruse. The pair continued to mutter to each other about how he had deceived the poor monk, and only stopped when James lightly dug his elbow into Richard’s side, warning them to be quiet or the monk would begin to get suspicious.
“I have things to do, so please excuse me for a few minutes. Make yourselves at home and don’t hesitate to pay your respects to the Lord.”
The monk then closed one of the adjacent doors and disappeared from view.
Mary said the first thing that came into her head, diffusing any possible argument between the two friends. “Did you know that when you look at it from above, this church is in the shape of a cross? The base is the aisle and the head is the altar.”
James replied without letting his friend get a word in. “I’ve read a lot about this basilica. According to tradition, the slabs used to make the altar are the ones used by St. Peter and the first Popes when they celebrated mass. There’s a baldachin above it with a Reliquary, where they keep the heads of St. Peter and St. Paul. Down there,” he said, pointing, “is the cathedral. It is seen as the episcopal throne of the Pope. In fact, a few masses are celebrated here, such as on Maundy Thursday. I think it’s made of marble and tiles.
Richard cleared his throat, reminding them why they had come in the first place. “According to Simone, we will find a familiar crest. I guess it’ll be engraved on some stone or statu
e inside. Look! He talks about a place deep inside, which makes me think that it won’t be anywhere frequented by visitors. Keep your eyes peeled! It could be anywhere!”
James showed the book to his friends. “I’m sure that the crest we’re looking for will be the symbol on the cover. It’s the only crest we’re familiar with. We don’t have much time before the monk gets back. Let’s get looking!”
The three split up in different directions and carefully examined each of the statues that decorated the inside of the church. The lighting was splendid; it would be difficult to leave any stone unturned.
Richard went straight to the baldachin and the altar, arguably the most beautiful part of the Archbasilica. Despite looking closely, he didn’t find any strange symbol. To his left was the Altar of the Blessed Sacrament; with its four colossal columns in gilded bronze measuring twenty-three feet high, onlookers were left in no doubt as to the importance of the Eucharist. The columns date back to Roman times and are the only remains of the Basilica of Constantine that are still visible today.
Richard was startled when James spoke to him from behind.
“The altar was specially chosen to give the impression of maximum importance. If you look, it’s right in front of one of the basilica’s side entrances, which is the one most often used because it faces the city center and welcomes the pilgrims who come from Saint Mary Major.”
“Have you found anything?” asked James, interrupting his explanations.
“I’ve looked along the aisle and both sides of the pews; I haven’t found anything odd. The statues are beautiful, but the symbol doesn’t even appear at the foot of them. Maybe we’ve got the wrong place.”
“That’s impossible, the text is crystal clear. We have to keep looking until we find it.”
Trifariam, The Lost Codex (2012) Page 11