The Seljuk Han of Anatolia
HACI HAFIZ HAN
![]() View of han from west (covered section wall; door added at a later date) |
![]() view of courtyard and covered section |
![]() reuse stones in circular arches at entry to covered section |
![]() rear view of covered section |
![]() collapsed eastern aisle of covered section |
DISTRICT (ILLER)
42 KONYA
LOCATION
This han is located on the Konya-Afyon Road, approximately 8
kilometers east of the Dokuzun Han. It is 100m on the right side of the road
when driving east.
OTHER NAMES
It is also known as the Bahri Han.
DATE
There is no inscription plaque. The han is similar in plan and decoration to the
nearby Dokuzun Han, as well as the Altinapa and Eli-Kesik hans in the Konya
region. It is probably thus of a similar date, 1201-1225.
REIGN OF
Giyaseddin Keyhüsrev I
PATRON
Unknown, although due to its name, it can be assumed that it was
built by a certain Haci Hafiz, probably a private patron.
BUILDING TYPE
Covered open courtyard (COC)
Covered section and courtyard of the same width
Covered section with 5 parallel aisles running perpendicular to the rear wall
7 bays of vaults parallel to the back wall
DESCRIPTION
This han turns its back to the current road and faces south, which leads us to
believe that there must have been a different caravan road in use at the time of
construction.
Like the Dokuzun Han, this is a very simple han in plan and decoration and fits into the Konya group of small and service-oriented hans. The main door is in the axis of the central aisle of the covered section.
There are a considerable number of feeding and watering trough stones in the courtyard.
There are also two raised barrier stone ledges (seki) at the entrance to the covered section.
The courtyard has two different sets of side aisles. The aisle to the west houses 4 covered cell-like rooms which were probably used for the storage of goods, while the eastern side of the courtyard contains an open arcade of 6 open cells, probably for the stabling of animals.
Dr. Ayşil Tükel Yavuz believes that the covered section of the han was not constructed of semi-circular arches, but were comprised of pierced walls for air circulation and decoration.
DECORATION
Like most of the Konya group hans, this han is constructed with considerable spolia (reuse) stones from Christian and antique monuments.
DIMENSIONS
This is not a particularly large han:
Total external area: approximately 385m2.
Covered section area: 250 m2
Courtyard area: 135m2
STATE
OF CONSERVATION, CURRENT USAGE
The right wall of the covered section has collapsed.
The han is in good condition and may be visited. It sits in an open field in a peaceful rural
setting of a fields and poplar trees.
The author would like to thank noted scholar Dr. Osman Eravşar of the Konya Selçuk University for his guided tour of this han in October, 2008.
BIBLIOGRAPHIC REFERENCES
Erdmann p. 62-63 no. 17

plan sketch courtesy of Dr. Osman Eravşar
©2001-2011, Katharine Branning; All Rights Reserved. No part of this site may be reproduced in any form without written consent from the author.