The Seljuk Han of Anatolia
HEKIM HAN
DISTRICT (IL)
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trilingual inscription plaque over the courtyard entrance |
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Inscription plaque over main entry door |
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courtyard; view onto covered section |
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rear view |
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entry to hamam |
44 MALATYA
LOCATION
The han is located on the Malatya-Kangal-Sivas Road, about 50 miles northwest of Malatya, in the
middle of the town of the same name, Hekimhan.
[map]
OTHER NAMES
The han is known to the locals as the Taş Han. It is also
known as the
Malatya Hekim Han, after the the doctor who donated it.
DATE
1218-20 (dated by the inscription over the covered section portal)
REIGN OF
This han was built during the reign of Sultan Alaeddin Keykubad I (courtyard)
and Izzeddin Kaykavus I for the hall. It was restored in the Ottoman period by
the famous Mehmed Köprülü, vizier of Sultan Mehmed IV, in 1660.
PATRON
This complex was founded by Alaeddin Keykubad I's doctor
Ebu Salim Ben Ebil-Hasan el-Sammas from Malatya. He also appears to have been a
Christian, active in religious affairs (Hekim = doctor; al sammas = deacon).
BUILDING TYPE
Covered with open courtyard (COC)
Covered section is smaller than the courtyard
Covered section with a central aisle and 1 aisle on each side running perpendicular to the back wall
6 bays of vaults
DESCRIPTION
The Ottoman period Köprülü hammam (1660) is located contiguous to the eastern
wall of the han, and the Köprülü Mehmet Pasha Mosque is located 50 m to the southeast.
Facing northwest, this han is in two sections of undecorated stone. It consists
of a square summer courtyard and a three-aisled winter hall. The
center aisle measures 7.10m wide.
The square shape of the courtyard is unusual, as most courtyards are
rectangular. It is surrounded on all sides by small rooms, even on the
covered section side, which is again unusual.
Over the door to the covered section there is an entirely unique inscription plaque in three languages: Arabic in the
middle, Armenian on the left and Syriac on the right. The Arabic inscription,
written in large nakshi lettering, gives the construction date of 615 (1218).
This inscription establishes the fact that the founder was a Syriac-Christian, states his profession and indicates that the han
was built as a commercial inn for private gain.
Above the main entry door to the han (2.6m wide) is another inscription which
states that the han was built during the reign of Alaeddin Keykubad, but no
date is given (reign: 1220-1236).
A third inscription is found to the right of the covered section portal dating from 1070 (1660) and which concerns the renovation work. It was restored in 1660-65 under the orders of Sadrazam Abü Salim ibn Abıl Hasan Köprülü Mehmet Paşa of Malatya, the famous vizier of Mehmet IV. The architect for the restoration was Hasan Ağa.
Although it follows the typical plan of sultan hans, it has two unusual
distinguishing features: firstly, it is extremely plain and almost devoid of decoration;
secondly, the trilingual inscription in Arabic, Armenian and Syriac
located in an inconspicuous part of the hall.
The mosque was probably a room on the courtyard, but following the renovations
during the Ottoman period, its traces have been lost. There is a bath with
accompanying furnace room in the northwest corner of the courtyard, reached from
an outside entry at the rear.
DECORATION
There are numerous geometrical decorations and mason marks on the building stones.
There is also a spolia stone capital over one of the arch springing on the
eastern side of the central aisle of the covered section.
DIMENSIONS
1,700m2 (total internal area)
Area of hall: 550m2
Area of courtyard: 870m2 (15 wide x 17.5 deep)
STATE OF CONSERVATION, CURRENT USAGE
The han, in good condition, is located in the middle of the town, in the center of a nest of shops
which form a small bazaar. It underwent a major restoration from
2006-2009, and glassed-in shop-fronts were installed in the courtyard cells.
It is currently used by the municipality for various civic events (eg. the
municipal Circumcision festival in August, 2009). There are plans (2009) to raze
the small adjoining bazaar to allow a clearer space around the western area of
the han.
BIBLIOGRAPHIC REFERENCES
Acun, p. 104-121 (includes extensive bibliography in Turkish); 501
Altun, p. 200
Bayrak, p. 470
Bektaş, p. 130-131
Erdmann, p. 63-67, no. 18
Ertuğ, p. 78
Hillenbrand, fig. 6.41, p. 552
Karpuz, Kuş, Dıvarcı and Şimşek (2008), vol. 2, p. 179-80
Kuban (2002), p. 242
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the countryside surrounding Hekimhan |
click below for more views (2009)
©2001-2011, Katharine Branning; All Rights Reserved. No part of this site may be reproduced in any form
without written consent from the author.