The Seljuk Han of Anatolia
Architectural elements
These raised platforms were especially useful for the traveling merchants. These platforms, or "loading docks", have cut-stone side walls and pavement, and are approx. 4 feet high. They exist in some 20 hans, although it can be assumed that they were present in all of them. Remnants in a few hans show that there were stone basins under the arches of the platform area, probably holding water and fodder for the animals. People would spread their bedding on these platforms and would sleep alongside of their goods once unloaded. The raised area would offer some degree of cleanliness from the courtyard area which held the animals. Some of these platforms even show remains of a tandir, or the traditional Anatolian clay oven.
In the majority of the hans, each platform or stable area is covered by a barrel vault. A common format was to have a wide platform area with a stable area on each side, thus comprising thus three vaulted galleries (Akhan). When there are five bays, the raised platform band forms a U, but the vaults may change direction. This was the typical layout for the larger hans such as the Aksaray Sultan, Ağzikara and Sari hans.
BATHS and LATRINES
While most of the larger hans had mosques, the same cannot be said for baths. There are only 6 known baths in the covered hall open courtyard type: Sultan Han Aksaray, Sultan Han Kayseri, Sari, Ak, Ağzikara, Elikesik, Ertokuş. To the right of the Cimcimli Han lies a ruins, with stones decorated with Byzantine motifs, which was probably a hot springs bath. In the larger hans, the baths included all the traditional sections of an urban public hamam, from cold room to hot room, but on a reduced scale. It can be assumed that the Karatay, in view of its size, had baths. In light of the importance placed on cleanliness in the Islamic culture and as a requisite for prayer, this paucity of baths seems puzzling.
Also puzzling are the latrines. It can be assumed that the baths served as latrines as well, yet the lack of clear-cut architectural evidence for the provision of this important element seems perplexing. No remains of latrines have been found, but they must have been at the end of the stables and had wooden partitions similar to those in a group of latrines in the courtyard of the Aksaray Sultan Han. It would make sense that the latrine area be located in the same area as the stables, and may have been a simple space partitioned with curtains. The Evdir han had a latrine in one of the abutments. In the Kargi and Aksaray Sultan Han, the latrines were grouped together in a large corner space. The latrines in the latter occupy the large space at the northwest corner of the courtyard, with a deep stone channel encircling the space on the east, north and west sides. Apparently there were several individual latrines along the channel, divided by timber partitions.
KITCHENS
Feeding the important numbers of visitors must have been a major activity in the daily life of the han. Once again, there appears to be a lack of specific evidence for designated spaces for cooking. There are no spaces that can be clearly identified as a kitchen, with chimneys, fireplaces or water systems. One must assume that cooking was done in the various cells in the courtyard, or campfire style with portable tandir ovens in the middle of the courtyard or in a courtyard arcade.
OUTER BUILDINGS
Meant as outlying trading posts, most hans by their very nature were very isolated from other buildings and the town. Other contiguous buildings are sometimes noted, their occurrence probably coming after the building of the han as a natural consequence of growth.
WATER SOURCES
All of the hans had a source of fresh water nearby, either from a fresh-running water source such as a river (Sari, Kesikkopru), lake, or by springs, wells or cisterns (Kirkgöz, Evdir). No water source can be determined for some 15 hans, but it can be supposed that there was one nearby.
DOMES
Domes were located at the cross vaults and over the mescit prayer rooms. Unfortunately, most of them have collapsed.
CRENELATION
The roofs of the hall and courtyard are generally flat but usually contain crenelation.
TOWERS
Many hans have massive towers on the outer walls of the han. They can be or the side of the courtyard or the hall, or can be at the corners (in hall or courtyard). They can be of many shapes: half-round, polygon, square, T-shaped, star-shaped.
Han Corner Side Total Sultan Han Aksaray 6 18 24 Eğridir 6 14 20 Karatay 6 12 18 Pazar 6 10 16 Sultan Han Kayseri 6 9 15 Ağzikara 6 7 13 Sari 6 6 12
©2001-2008, Katharine Branning; All Rights Reserved. No part of this site may be reproduced in any form without written consent from the author.