LOCATION
This han is located 13 km to the northeast of Aksaray on the Nevşehir road (Rte. 300), in the village of Ağzikara.

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OTHER NAMES
Hoca Mesud or Kiosk Cami Han

DATE
1231 for the covered section
1237 for the courtyard
Dated by two inscriptions

REIGN OF

Construction was started under the reign of Alaeddin Keykubad I for the hall and completed in the time of Sultan Giyaseddin Keyhüsrev II (1237-1246) for the courtyard.

PATRON
The first of its two inscriptions indicates that its construction was started in 1231 as a charitable foundation by a wealthy merchant named Hoca Mesud bin Abdullah and completed in 1239. The hall was built during the time of Alaeddin Keykubad I and the courtyard by his son Gıyaseddin Keyhüsrev II.
 

BUILDING TYPE

Covered open courtyard (COC)
Covered section smaller than courtyard
Covered section with a central aisle and 2 pairs of side aisles running perpendicular to the back wall

6 bays of vaults parallel to the back wall

DESCRIPTION
This han faces approximately west, and lies parallel to road.

With its great portals, free-standing kiosk mosque, towers, classical plan and other architectural features, this han is very reminiscent of the Sultan Hans.   However, it differs from the traditional classical plan in that it has an unusual orientation (as in the Kesikköprü and Durağan Hans), with the covered hall to the left of the portal, not directly opposite it.

Exterior:

The portal is built on one side, and probably faced Aksaray. There are six outer corner towers and seven towers of the sides for a total of 13, giving the han the appearance of a fortified castle.  This han was badly damaged during fighting between the Karaman forces and a Turkish lord named Memreş, and two of the towers were destroyed. They were rebuilt at the beginning of the 14th century by Kerimeddin Gazan Han.
This han received its name, the "Han of the dark mouth" probably because its main portal is so deep that it never admits sunlight.  Indeed, it seems as if one walks through a tunnel to reach the courtyard.
 

Courtyard and mosque:

The free-standing kiosk mosque, a particularly fine example of the type, is raised upon a four arches and is positioned in the middle of the courtyard.  It is sparsely decorated on the outside. There are 6 steps up to the muezzin's pedestal, and 10 steps up to the prayer room, which is decorated with stalactites and rosettes on its ceiling.

The courtyard is surrounded by colonnades and closed rooms which served as service rooms, lodging, and stables.

A set of stairs, located in the southeast corner of the courtyard,  leads up to the roof and to a watchtower room.

Bath:
The baths are located at the right forecourt, with a small corridor leading to a vaulted, windowless room. There is a changing room with a wooden ceiling, followed by four square rooms leading to the caldarium.

Covered section:

This han has an unusual orientation of the covered section in relationship to the entry.  It is situated to the side and not in the axis of the entrance, which is the classic orientation. 

Inscriptions:

There are two inscriptions of two lines over the courtyard and hall doors.

DECORATION

The high, pointed arch of the main portal (called a "crown door" in Turkish) is decorated with geometric motifs in high relief (muqarnas), cut with an outstanding degree of workmanship. The carved decoration is purely geometrical, and as such, notable for the absence of the human figures, animals and floral motifs typical of the period.
Between the muqarnas and the framing arches is a band of swastikas.  Other decorative elements include braids, trelliswork, brickwork in the arches, lambrequins, and rope designs.
The decoration of the mosque room is more elaborate than is found in general.

The distinctive warm honey color of the stone is in itself a decorative element.

DIMENSIONS
This is one of the largest hans built:
Total external area (towers and portal excluded) is 2,680m2.
Covered section area: 780m2
Courtyard area: 1,480m2

STATE OF CONSERVATION, CURRENT USAGE
This is one of the most impressive of the remaining hans.  Well-preserved and maintained, it is one of the only hans to have survived completely intact to this day.  It is run as a open-air museum by the Turkish government.  Apparently there are some houses nearby that are thought to date from the same period of construction.

BIBLIOGRAPHIC REFERENCES

Altun, p. 200
Bayrak, p. 571
Bektaş, p. 98-105
Erdmann, no. 27, p. 97-102
Ertuğ, p. 78-79
Gülyaz, Murat Ertuğrul  "The Caravansaraıs of Cappadocia", Skylife Magazine, December, 1999
Hillenbrand, fig. 6.42, p. 552; 6.43, p. 348
Rice, p. 206