Kizil Kosk

Kizil Kosk

Kayseri, Turkey

This is a small Seljuk pleasure pavilion, probably used in the summer to escape the heat and enjoy the countryside. It is located about 15km from the center of Kayseri, on the road that leads to Erciyes Mountain in the Billur Garden district. It is located on the northwest section of a hilltop with a panoramic view over the city. This hilltop siting recalls the Hizir Ilyas Kiosk. The construction date is unknown, but it is mentioned in the foundation charter of Giyaseddin Kaykubad II written in 1246. This vakif charter is particularly important because it contains the signatures of Seyyid Burhaneddin and Mevlana Celaleddin Rumi.

It is currently in ruins, with only 1 iwan remaining. The northern part of the walls are built out to form a sort of terrace. The plan comprises 4 interconnected barrel-vaulted iwans disposed in a quadrant pattern. As this was a modest private pleasure pavilion, there is no inscription plaque. There is no remaining decoration, although shards of turquoise ceramics found nearby could have possibly been original to the building.

This han has been excavated by Dr. Osman Eravsar, who has reconstructed the plan as shown below. For more information, cf. Ozbek, Doç Dr. Yildiray and Yrd. Doç. Dr. Celil Arslan. Kayseri Taşinmaz Kültür Varliklari Envanteri, Kayseri Büyükşehir Belediyesi, 2008, vol. 3, p. 708-711.

Photographs taken in August 2009. I thank the Kayseri historian Muhsin Ilyas Subaşı for his guided tour.