The Seljuk Han of Anatolia

Hans with mosques

There are approximately 16 hans with mosques, mostly in the form of a small room (mescit).  This room can be located in various areas of the han: on the far side of the courtyard, in, next to, or over the entry way (Alara and Sari), or as a free-standing structure (kiosk) in the middle of the courtyard.  When the mosque is above the entrance portal, it is reached by an staircase separate from the one leading to the roof.   Many of the mosques had elaborate entrances, mihrabs, and decorated muquarnas or vaults.  The kiosk mosques of the Ağzikara and Kayseri Sultan Hans are particularly noteworthy.  Not all hans had mosques, as the flat roof terrace often served as an area for prayer.

Compared to the rest of the Islamic world, the Seljuks appeared to place less emphasis in their architectural program on the building of mosques. They preferred instead to develop the medrese and the han. 

Hans that have mescit mosques are :

• Altinapa

• Kuruçeşme

• Kızılören

• Ertokuş

• Ak (Goncali)

• Kesikköprü

• Sultan Han Aksaray

• Sultan Han Kayseri

• Ağzikara

• Zazadin

• Karatay

• Obruk

• Sari Han

• Işakli

• Şarafşa

• Kargi

• Hekim

• Durak

• Hatun

• Evdir

• Kırkgöz

• Alara

• Esab-I Keyf
  
   

Hans with freestanding kiosk mosques:

Sultan Aksaray, 1229	Ağzıkara Han, 1231-37	Sultan Kayseri, 1232-1236	Sahip Ata Han, 1249-50

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