Obruk Han

LOCATION
This han is located 74 km from Konya in the village of Obruk, off the Konya-Aksaray main road. Upon arriving at the town of Kizören, there will be a turn off to the left towards the village of Obruk, which lies 4 km from the main road. The han sits on a cliff above a small, 30m deep crater lake, with vivid turquoise blue water.

[map]

DATE
Erdmann estimates the han was built around 1245-50; Kuban believes that is is much earlier, before 1230.

REIGN OF
Either Izzeddin Keykavus I (1211-20) (Kuban) or during the reign of Kılıçarslan IV (1249-1265) (Erdmann).

Covered open courtyard (COC)
Covered section is smaller than the courtyard
Covered section with a central aisle and with 2 side aisles on each side
8 side vaults

DESCRIPTION
This han was an important stop on the Konya-Aksaray route, and is located between the Zazadin Han (1236) and the Aksaray Sultan Han (1229). The han lies parallel to the road, with the door facing southwest towards the route. Kuban believes that this was the only han on this road during the first half of the 13th century, and was one of the largest of the early period hans.

The han shows a typical plan for the era: covered section to the rear of an open courtyard. This is a large han, with a particularly vast courtyard leading to the rear section (19 x 29m).

The facade of the han is severe, with no decoration except for the three window openings of the mosque. There is no elaborate crown portal, nor an inscription plaque over the door. This plain flat front and the "turrets" over the door are quite unusual and give this han its own distinctive aesthetic personality.

The entry has two storeys. The mosque lies to the right of the entry passageway to the courtyard on the upper storey, accessible by a set of stone steps. The mosque comprises a horizontal series of 4 cells and has a mihrab.

The courtyard has two different sets of 5 side aisles. The aisles to the southeast were covered cell-like rooms with windows and were probably used for the storage of goods, while those to the northeast, with wider openings, were used for the stabling of animals (camels).

The covered section has a middle aisle some 5.5 m wide, with a central dome at the crossing of the sixth arcade. There are 8 covered cells on each side, 9 m deep and 3-4 meters wide, with the vaulting running perpendicular to the the side walls.

A large quantity of fine-quality spolia from other buildings has been used in its construction. Most of these stone fragments bear Christian symbols and inscriptions in Greek and must have originated from a nearby Byzantine church or monastery. Their presence attests to the cosmopolitan population profile of Konya at that time. The historian and travel writer El-Herevi, writing around 1215, mentions a Byzantine settlement near Konya in the time of Izzeddin Kaykavus (1211-1220). An archaeological analysis of these stones would need to be researched to determine their origin and date.
The covered section main aisle is lined with an impressive procession of columns with flat entablatures.

Note: the patterned "tree of life" kilims of the region of Obruk are known world-wide.

DIMENSIONS
Total area (excluding the tower and protruding gatehouse) is 2,335m2.
Area of hall: 820m2
Area of courtyard: 1200 m2

STATE OF CONSERVATION, CURRENT USAGE
Most of the building is in ruins, although the plan can be easily determined. The roof of the covered section has collapsed, as well as that of the courtyard cells. The facade with its distinctive castle-like turrets is in excellent condition.

The han is empty and may be visited. Although it is in a ruined state, there is enough still standing to allow the visitor to imagine for himself its original appearance and atmosphere. Its remote location, solid craftmanship, vast courtyard, mysterious spolia and the high arches of the rear section evoking a ruined medieval Normand abbey, as well as the milky turquoise waters of the crater lake to the rear make a visit of this han quite memorable.

*courtyard aisles, northwest*	*courtyard aisles, southeast*
*rear section aisles, southeast*	*rear section aisles, northwest*
*spolia*



*1999 Turkish stamp depicting the Obruk Han*	*Obruk Göl, the 30m deep tectonic lake to rear of han*