The Seljuk Han of Anatolia

EGRET HAN


A late-period, simple han most probably built by the notorious vizier Pervane Muineddin Süleyman of Tokat.

 

Karpuz, Anadolu Selçuklu Eserleri (2008) v.1, p. 36

 

plan drawn by Erdmann

Cells in second storey of covered section

DISTRICT
03 AFYONKARAHISAR


LOCATION

38.953514, 30.344341


The Eğret Han is located on the Afyon-Kütahya road, in the village of Doğer, 38 km from Afyon and 20 miles north of the town of İhsaniye.


DATE
Estimated to be approximately 1260-78 by geographical and stylistic evidence.


REIGN OF

Giyaseddin Keyhüsrev III

 

INSCRIPTION
The inscription plaque over the covered section door has been removed and is unfortunately now lost, so there are no precise historical details.

 

PATRON
Assumed to be the Pervane Muineddin Süleyman
 

BUILDING TYPE

Covered, no courtyard (C)


DESCRIPTION
The han faces east and lies perpendicular to the road. It is the last station on the Konya-Afyon trade route.


The han is made of smooth-faced cut stone. No bath or mosque was found. There are two rows of 4 T-shaped columns (8 in all). The covered section is covered with pointed barrel vaults with two slit windows on three sides.
 

DECORATION

There are Byzantine reuse spolia columns with capitals on the portal, similar to the Altinapa and Derbent hans.
The main entry portal with a round arch is plain and does not resemble the traditional Seljuk crown door format. It has two columns and a pointed arch.

 

DIMENSIONS
Area of covered section: 320m2 (14.50 x 22 m)
 

STATE OF CONSERVATION, CURRENT USE
The portal and one part of the central nave were completely rebuilt in 1969. It is currently in use for municipal storage. The han was completely restored in 2006.
 

BIBLIOGRAPHIC REFERENCES

Bayrak, M. O. Türkiye Tarihi yerler kılavuzu, 1994, p. 27.

Erdmann, Kurt. Das Anatolische Karavansaray des 13. Jahrhunderts, 1961, pp. 152-154, n. 42.

Görür, Muhammet. “Anadolu Selçuklu Dönemi Kervansaraylari Kataloğu.” Acun, H. Anadolu Selçuklu Dönemi Kervansaraylari. Ankara: Kültür ve Turizm Bakanliği, 2007, pp. 493.

Ilter, İsmet. Tarihi Türk Hanları. Karayolları Genel Müdürlüğü Publication, Ankara 1969.

Karpuz, Haşim. & Kuş, A. & Dıvarcı, I. & Şimşek, F. Anadolu Selçuklu Eserleri, 2008., vol. 1, p. 36.

Özergin, M. Kemal. “Anadolu’da Selçuklu Kervansarayları”, Tarih Dergisi, XV/20, 1965, pp. 149, n. 32

Rice, Tamara Talbot. The Seljuks in Asia Minor, 1961,  p. 206.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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