The Seljuk Han of Anatolia   

EGRIDIR HAN 

DISTRICT (IL)
32 ISPARTA

LOCATION
This han is located in the town on Eğridir at the southern end of the lake of the same name.  It is located approximately 3 km outside of town on the Gelendost-Akşehir road, just beyond the Bone Hospital.

[map]
 

OTHER NAMES

Giyaseddin Keyhüsrev han.

DATE
1237-38

Due to its impressive size and similarity in plan to the Sultan Hans of Aksaray and Kayseri, this han has traditionally been considered to be a royal commission, most likely by Alaeddin Keykubad I and finished by his son Giyaseddin Keyhüsrev II. There is, however,  no definite proof of this, as the inscription plaque has been lost.
 

PATRON

Giyaseddin Keyhüsrev II
 

BUILDING TYPE

Covered with courtyard (COC)
Covered section smaller than the courtyard
Covered section with a middle aisle and 2 rows of aisles on each side
7 bays of vaults in covered section

1 arcade of open vaults on the southern side of the courtyard
 

DESCRIPTION
The han faces west towards Lake Eğirdir.  It was the last han on the Konya-Eğirdir route, which then linked down to Antalya and the coast.

Although the han is now in ruins, the plan can be ascertained.  It consists of a very large courtyard with a single row of 7 open cells to the southern side.  The hall is smaller than the courtyard, and comprises 3 aisles covered by pointed arches, with an oculus located at the middle. There are 6 corner towers and 14 side towers. 

The two portals have been lost, but decorative stones from them have been incorporated into the city walls of the city, next to the Dündar Bey Medrese. 

DECORATION

The han has been pillaged for many years for other building projects.  Some 25 stone fragments from it have been incorporated into the city wall next to the Dündar Bey Medrese. If the spolia from this han now incorporated into the city walls is any indication, the portal of the han must have included many decorative elements such as trelliswork, blossoms, arabesques, polygons and braids.

DIMENSIONS
Total area: 1,640 m2
Area of hall: 1,290m2
Area of courtyard: 1,640m2
This is a very large han, with a size comparable with the Sultan Hans of Kayseri and Aksaray.  When built, it would have been the third largest han in Anatolia.

STATE OF CONSERVATION, CURRENT USAGE
The han is in a completely ruined state.  A major archeological survey and excavation led by the Isparta Museum was begun in 2006 and is ongoing.

BIBLIOGRAPHIC REFERENCES

Acun, p. 236-253 (includes extensive bibliography in Turkish); 494

Erdmann, p. 125-6, no. 33
Karpuz, Kuş, Dıvarcı and Şimşek (2008), vol. 1, p. 374-5

Rice, p. 206

sign for current research project	general overview of dig and collapsed covered section to rear
general overview of dig with collapsed covered section	overview of city wall next to the Dündar Bey Medrese, with reuse spolia from the han

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