Ağzıkara Han is a historic Seljuk-era caravanserai in Turkey. It is located in the Ağzıkarahan village in the province of Aksaray.
History edit
The caravanserai is considered one of the most important and richly-decorated examples of ordinary caravanserais built by non-royal patrons.[1][2] Foundation inscriptions attest that the covered/roofed section of the building was completed in June 1231 during the reign of Sultan Ala ad-Din Kayqubad I, while the courtyard was completed in February 1240 during the reign of his successor Kaykhusraw II.[1][3] The patron who commissioned the construction was named Mes’ud, son of Abdullah.[1][3]
Architecture edit
Like other major caravanserais of this period, it consists of two sections: one centered around a main courtyard, and an indoors section. The caravanserai is entered via a monumental entrance portal (pishtaq) projecting from the plain exterior walls of the building, with stone-carved decoration and a vaulted canopy of muqarnas. It leads to the main courtyard, around which are numerous chambers. In the middle of the courtyard is a small mosque consisting of a square stone chamber raised on four pillars and reached by stairs, considered an excellent example of this feature (which recurs in other caravanserais). The indoors section consists of a vaulted nave with a central dome (though the dome itself has been lost), from which vaulted chambers open on either side.[1][3]
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General view of the exterior -
Details of the stone carving in the main entrance portal -
The main courtyard with the elevated mosque -
The mosque, seen from its entrance side -
The entrance portal of the covered or indoors section -
The interior of the covered section -
References edit
- ^ a b c d Kuyulu Ersoy, İnci. "Ağzıkara Han (caravanserai)". Discover Islamic Art, Museum With No Frontiers. Retrieved July 4, 2020.
- ^ mondial, UNESCO Centre du patrimoine. "Seljuk Caravanserais on the route from Denizli to Dogubeyazit - UNESCO World Heritage Centre". UNESCO Centre du patrimoine mondial (in French). Retrieved 2020-07-04.
- ^ a b c "Agzikara Han". www.turkishhan.org. Retrieved 2020-07-04.
38°26′43.3″N 34°08′26.6″E / 38.445361°N 34.140722°E
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