The Seljuk Han of Anatolia
ESHAB-I KEHF HAN
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 ribat portal |
 commemorative stamp, 2001 issue
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DISTRICT
(IL)
46 KAHRAMANMARAŞ
LOCATION
This han is located 5 km west of the village of Afşin, 16 km past Elbistan
on the
Göksun road.
OTHER NAMES
Afşin Han
DATE
First quarter of the
13th century
REIGN OF
Alaeddin Keykubad I
PATRON
Although the inscription plaque has been lost, the patron is believed to be
Nasr ad-Din Hasan ibn Ibrahim. A former slave, he became governor of Maraş under Alaeddin Keykubad
from 1211 until at least 1232.
BUILDING TYPE
Concentric
DESCRIPTION
The complex: This han is part of a complex: in addition to the han, there is a mosque
(which once served as a church in the Byzantine era) and a ribat (fort). All form a
building complex called the Eshab'ül Kehf Külliyesi. The church was a
pilgrimage spot in Christian times, and the whole complex has continued as such
in Islamic times.
It is the magnificent ribat, with its finely-decorated portal that is the highlight of this complex, and is one of the most spectacular examples of all Seljuk architecture. Sitting high on the hill, the ribat dominates the entire complex. The han is located below it, and is a more modestly-decorated structure. The facades of the two structures face each other.
Next to the ribat is the mosque, built on the site of the former pilgrimage church. Inside the mosque, there remain extensive spolia and marble column capitals from the former church. Many of these are spectacular examples of marble stonecutting.
Above the ribat, on a high hill, is located a large tandir (underground baking oven used for bread). This oven is located next to a large flat rock used for rolling the bread dough. Similar tandirs have been located in other hans.
The han:
The han faces south. The concentric plan comprises a central courtyard and a
stable area that runs along the western long side of the courtyard.
The courtyard contains open and closed rooms on 3 sides (8m wide and 21 m deep).
There are three open iwans on the east and west sides, with closed rooms between
them. The south side has a larger iwan flanked by two closed rooms. The
north entry has a guard room to the east and a room to the west which leads to
the long covered hall on the west of the structure.
A large, covered hall (5.5 m wide and 31 long) runs the entire length of the western part of the han. There are no windows in the walls. This area was used as the stable area.
The plan of the Eshab-i Kehf Han differs in certain features from the traditional Seljuk Han plan. It consists of open and closed rooms arranged around a long, narrow courtyard. On the western side there is an L-shaped stable section. Directly opposite the entrance is a large iwan with vaulted rooms on each side. This concentric plan is similar to the plans of the Alara and Tercan hans. This han resembles more of a medrese in plan than a traditional courtyard style han plan, and it quite unusual for this.
No bath has been noted. The water source was from the spring located below
the ribat. Inside of the ribat there is an underground spring which links to the Esab-i
Kehf underground springs and caves, 3 miles to the west.
This han is located in a highly scenic area, atop a small mountain, offering a majestic view of the countryside below, ringed on four sides by mountains.
DECORATION
The
arch of the portal door of the ribat is filled with a highly-decorated program
of of muqarnas (stalactites) and rosettes. The portal of the han is simple, and
the inscription plaque has been lost.
DIMENSIONS
850m2 (external area)
STATE OF CONSERVATION, CURRENT USAGE
The entire complex is in excellent condition. The han has been restored and may be visited
(ask guardian in house above to open). The site is highly-frequented on
Fridays for prayer and on the weekends for picnics, and the drinking water of the spring
below the ribat is highly prized. The complex, with its history, prominence of
site and serene quietude, retains the spiritual atmosphere of the Christian
pilgrimage site. Today, visitors tie votive wish ribbons to many of the
trees and bushes on the hill above the complex.
BIBLIOGRAPHIC REFERENCES
Altun, p. 199
Aslanapa,
Oktay. "Anadolu'da
Ilk Türk Mimarisi", p. 118, Ankara: Atatürk Kültür, Dil ve Tarih Yüksek Kurumu,
1991.
Bektaş, p. 128-129
Erdmann, p. 187-188, no. 59
Guide bleu, p. 662
Rice p. 206
more information may be seen on the Turkish site
www.afsin.gov.tr
entry to kulliye complex
elaborate stalactite portal of the ribat
overview of ribat
detail of portal carving
side niche of ribat portal
entry hall to ribat
spolia capital head in mosque courtyard
niche in mosque (former altar area of church?)
underground spring in mosque
mosque
spolia capital in mosque
spolia capital in mosque
spolia capital in mosque
spolia capital in mosque
mosque interior showing spolia columns and capitals
patio area outside of mosque
tandir (cooking oven) on hill above ribat
tandir stone used for making bread
ribat facade
ribat portal
inscription plaque over ribat portal
detail of exquisite carving of ribat portal
detail of carving on ribat portal
overview of han
rear view of han
interior view of courtyard of han
covered side hall to west of han
cross-vaulting in courtyard room
view of courtyard room
courtyard room
courtyard room
courtyard room, west
courtyard rooms, east
courtyard room
overview of courtyard, east
overview of courtyard, looking south
overview of han courtyard, looking west
view of courtyard, west
countryside near Afşin
countryside near Afşin
view from ribat
view from ribat
©2001-2008, Katharine Branning; All Rights Reserved. No part of this site may be reproduced in any form without written consent from the author.
