Eshab-ı Kehf Kulliye (The Seven Sleepers) The Eshab-ı Kehf Complex is situated on a hill called Bencilus, 7 kilometers (4.3 mi) from the Afşin district in the Kahramanmaraş province. It is located 130 kilometers (81 mi) away from the city center of Kahramanmaraş. The area where the complex is located has been shaped by the influence of various religions and civilizations throughout history. Each civilization has added its own exceptional value to the area through their beliefs, and the sacred land has been kept alive by the construction of structures such as those from the Eastern Roman, Seljuk, Dulkadiroğlu Principality, and Ottoman Empire periods. Traces of these reigns can still be seen in the surviving buildings. According to sources, the church in the complex was originally built by the Byzantine Emperor Theodosius (408-450). Later, Nusretüddin Hasan Bey, the Emir of Maraş from the Anatolian Seljuks, constructed a series of buildings on top of the church, including the mosque that exists today. Some materials from the original church were used in the construction of the mosque, resulting in a beautiful merge of the two buildings. The other structures in the complex were built by Nusretuddin Hasan Bey. The Ribat, which was constructed in 1215 for military purposes along the border and in strategic positions, and the inn (1233) provided accommodation and met the needs of visitors. During the Dulkadir Principality period, the complex was expanded with the addition of the madrasah (1480-1492) and women's mosque (1500). The Pasha Çardağı was built in 1531 during the Ottoman period. Legend has it that during the Middle Ages in the city of Efsus or Yarpuz, the Roman Emperor Dakyanus demanded that people worship him and idols. In this time of waning belief in mythological gods, seven Christian youths named Yemliha, Mekselina, Mislina, Mernus, Sazenus, Tebernus and Kefestetayus refused to worship the emperor and instead worshipped secretly, leading to their persecution. They sought refuge in a cave where they met a faithful shepherd, and fell asleep. When the emperor's viziers found the cave, they covered the entrance to keep the youths inside. This story is significant to both Christian and Islamic traditions. The 18th chapter of the Quran is named "Kahf" and tells the story of the Seven Sleepers. Christians revere them as saints while Muslims consider them to be miracles. In 2015, the Eshab-ı Kehf Complex was registered on UNESCO's World Heritage Tentative List, reflecting its cultural and historical importance.