The Seljuk Han of Anatolia

ESHAB-I KEHF HAN 

ribat portal

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.

[map]
 

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 (once a Byzantine church) and a ribat (fort). All form a building complex called the Eshab'ül Kehf Külliyesi.  The church was a pilgrimage site 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, and was completely restored in 2008.  The han 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

Acun, p. 436-447 (includes extensive bibliography in Turkish); 497

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
Karpuz, Kuş, Dıvarcı and Şimşek (2008), vol. 1, p. 398-399.

Rice p. 206
 

For further views, click on thumbnails below:

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

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