Haç (The Cross Cave)
The rock cavity known as Haç (the Cross) is located on the northern face of the rocky mass that supports Çorum Castle, in the middle section of the rock. Rising about 15 meters from the ground below, this cave is popularly called the “barber’s room.” Because of the arrangements inside it and the cross marks on its outer walls, it is considered highly likely that the space once served as a church.
History
The crag on which the cave sits and the surrounding castle area have been used for settlement and defense since very early periods. Sources note that this region was first valued as a settlement and defensive area by the Paphlagonians and, in later periods, by the Byzantines. Paphlagonia is the name of a region that, in antiquity, covered the northern part of Central Anatolia, with the Çorum area lying in its eastern part. As in many regions of Anatolia during the Byzantine period, places of worship and refuge were carved into the rocks in this area as well; such rock churches and cells bear the traces of both religious life and the need for security.
Architecture
Inside the cave there is a seat created by carving directly into the rock. Such rock-cut benches are a common feature found in rock churches and monastery cells. On the walls of the exterior side of the space are cross marks, again carved into the rock. The presence of cross motifs and the interior arrangement support the interpretation that the structure was a place of worship from the Christian period, most likely a small rock church. The fact that the space is popularly known as the barber’s room shows that its original function was forgotten over time and that local people came to name it differently.
Location and Visiting
Because Haç is located in the rock mass right next to the castle in the center of Çorum, it lies at an easily accessible point within the city’s historical fabric. The cave’s position on a high part of the rock face suggests that it provided a sheltered space, both for defense and for seclusion.
This structure, which can be considered together with Çorum Castle located on and around the same crag, is among the historical buildings in the city center. Those who wish to learn more closely about the region’s ancient and medieval past can add this site to their tour program along with the other remains and structures nearby. The Çorum Museum, which displays Çorum’s multilayered history, and the Kaletepe mound, also in the city center, form related stops that complement this cave.
ℹ️ This article has been enriched with additional historical context and editing over the original archive content.