Cappadocia is located in east-central Anatolia, in the center of modern day Turkey and just north of the Taurus mountains. The region boasts a unique relationship between dramatic natural forms and feats of human engineering. The landscape in Cappadocia was formed by ancient volcanic eruptions which solidified into a soft rock (called tuff) which was then shaped by wind and water into towers, cones, valleys, and caves. These rock formations stand as tall as 130 feet. Throughout the region's history, the Cappadocian landscape has been shaped just as meaningfully by cultural, religious, and geopolitical forces.

The Hittites (1800-1200 BCE) were some of the first inhabitants of Cappadocia, occupying Goreme, which is now a UNESCO World Heritage site and national park. The Cappadocian region was at a crossroads of a multitude of geopolitical conflicts- Alexander the Great's Macedonia, the following Seleucid empire, the Romans, and finally, the medieval Byzantine empire. The persistent level of conflict in the region led residents to hide, protected in entire towns tunneled in to the volcanic rock.

By the 4^th century, Cappadocia was a religious refuge for early Christians fleeing Rome's persecution. The area is referenced in the biblical books of Acts and 1 Peter and produced theologians important to the formation of early Christian doctrine. The churches and monasteries within the labyrinths of Cappadocia are a testament to this period, and the frescoed paintings recovered here are well-preserved examples of Byzantine art today.

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