Alay Han

The Seljuk Han of Anatolia

ALAY HAN

View from road

Main portal with elaborate stalactite vault

DISTRICT (IL)
68 AKSARAY

LOCATION
This han is located 35 km northeast of Aksaray on the Nevsehir road. It was once on both sides of the road, but now only the north section remains.

[map]

OTHER NAMES
This building may be what in written sources is referred to as the Kılıçarslan II Kervansaray. Originally called "Sultanhan", it is believed that its present name was given to avoid confusion with later buildings with the same name.

DATE
Construction is thought to have taken place before 1190 based on stylistic analysis of the decoration. (There is no inscription).

REIGN OF
Scholars are not sure: Kiliç Aslan II, Gıyaseddin Keyhüsrev I or İzzeddin Kiliçarslan II

PATRON
This is a sultan han.

BUILDING TYPE
Covered with open courtyard (COC)
Covered section smaller than courtyard
Covered section with a central aisle and two sets of side aisles running perpendicular to the back wall

7 bays of vaults

DESCRIPTION
The building faces approximately north and lies perpendicular to the road.
This is considered to be the oldest of hans ever built in Anatolia by the Seljuks of Rum. Sultan hans generally consisted of one open and one covered section. Unfortunately, the open courtyard section of this han has been completely destroyed, leaving only part of the covered section consisting of three bays roofed by seven vaults. Although it is the oldest han known, it nevertheless bears nearly all the distinctive architectural features of the sultan han group. The portal, surmounted by a muqarnas niche, the oculus in the central dome, the central vault, and the seven vaults on either side are typical of classical Seljuk han architecture.

No traces of a mosque or bath have been found.
There is a spring some 50 m to the east.
There appears to be no place provided on the portal for an inscription plaque.

DECORATION
The doorway is framed by a broad border whose stonework geometrical decoration of interlocking octagons and diagonal swastikas, along with seven rows of muqarnas (stalactite carving) is unusual. The hall doorway features a carved lion with a single head and double body, cut in low-relief. There is a magnificent frame decoration of running triangles on the hall door.
The ornament on the portal door has stylistic similarities to the Great Mosque of Divriği of 1180 and the Çifte Medrese in Kayseri of 1201.

DIMENSIONS
2,900 m2 (total external area)
hall: 1030 m2
courtyard: 1520m2

STATE OF CONSERVATION, CURRENT USAGE
Badly ruined, with the courtyard section totally in ruins. Only the portal remains, a proud vestige of the long architectural tradition that it inaugurated.

BIBLIOGRAPHIC REFERENCES
Altun, p. 198
Bayrak, p. 571
Bektaş, p. 108-109
Erdmann, no. 24, p. 81-83
Ertuğ, p. 78
Gülyaz, Murat Etuğrul. "The Kervansarays of Cappadocia". Skylife Magazıne, December, 1999

Kuban, p. 242
Rice, p. 206