Ağzıkara Han
Caravanserai in Turkey
Ağzıkara Han is a historic Seljuk -era caravanserai in Turkey . It is located in the Ağzıkarahan village in the province of Aksaray .
History
The caravanserai is considered one of the most important and richly-decorated examples of ordinary caravanserais built by non-royal patrons. [1] [2] Foundation inscriptions attest that the covered/roofed section of the building was completed in June 1231 during the reign of Sultan Ala ad-Din Kayqubad I , while the courtyard was completed in February 1240 during the reign of his successor Kaykhusraw II . [1] [3] The patron who commissioned the construction was named Mes’ud, son of Abdullah. [1] [3]
Architecture
Like other major caravanserais of this period, it consists of two sections: one centered around a main courtyard, and an indoors section. The caravanserai is entered via a monumental entrance portal ( pishtaq ) projecting from the plain exterior walls of the building, with stone-carved decoration and a vaulted canopy of muqarnas . It leads to the main courtyard, around which are numerous chambers. In the middle of the courtyard is a small mosque consisting of a square stone chamber raised on four pillars and reached by stairs, considered an excellent example of this feature (which recurs in other caravanserais). The indoors section consists of a vaulted nave with a central dome (though the dome itself has been lost), from which vaulted chambers open on either side. [1] [3]
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General view of the exterior
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Details of the stone carving in the main entrance portal
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The main courtyard with the elevated mosque
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The mosque, seen from its entrance side
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The entrance portal of the covered or indoors section
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The interior of the covered section
References
- 1 2 3 4 Kuyulu Ersoy, İnci. "Ağzıkara Han (caravanserai)" . Discover Islamic Art, Museum With No Frontiers . Retrieved July 4, 2020 .
- ↑ mondial, UNESCO Centre du patrimoine. "Seljuk Caravanserais on the route from Denizli to Dogubeyazit - UNESCO World Heritage Centre" . UNESCO Centre du patrimoine mondial (in French) . Retrieved 2020-07-04 .
- 1 2 3 "Agzikara Han" . www.turkishhan.org . Retrieved 2020-07-04 .
38°26′43.3″N 34°08′26.6″E / 38.445361°N 34.140722°E / 38.445361; 34.140722
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