SELJUK CARAVANSERAIS IN THE VICINITY OF DENIZLI: HAN-ABAD (ÇARDAKHAN) AND AKHAN A Master’s Thesis by MEHMET KUTLU The Department of Archaeology and History of Art Bilkent University Ankara January 2009 SELJUK CARAVANSERAIS IN THE VICINITY OF DENIZLI: HAN-ABAD (ÇARDAKHAN) AND AKHAN The Institute of Economics and Social Sciences of Bilkent University by MEHMET KUTLU In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of MASTER OF ARTS in THE DEPARTMENT OF ARCHAEOLOGY AND HISTORY OF ART BILKENT UNIVERSĐTY ANKARA January 2009 I certify that I have read this thesis and that it is fully adequate, in scope and quality, as a thesis for the degree of Masters of Arts in the Department of Archaeology and History of Art. ........................................ Dr. Charles Gates Supervisor I certify that I have read this thesis and that it is fully adequate, in scope and quality, as a thesis for the degree of Masters of Arts in the Department of Archaeology and History of Art. ........................................ Dr. Oya Pancaroğlu Examining Committee Member I certify that I have read this thesis and that it is fully adequate, in scope and quality, as a thesis for the degree of Masters of Arts in the Department of Archaeology and History of Art. ........................................ Dr. Paul Latimer Examining Committee Member Approval of the Institute of Economics and Social Sciences ........................................ Prof. Dr. Erdal Erel Director ABSTRACT SELJUK CARAVANSERAIS IN THE VICINITY OF DENIZLI: HAN-ABAD (ÇARDAKHAN) AND AKHAN Kutlu, Mehmet M.A, Department of Archaeology and History of Art Supervisor: Dr. Charles Gates January 2009 This present work is a study of Seljuk caravanserais in the vicinity of Denizli with a special focus on local socio-economic and historical factors. A first objective is to examine the suggestions, based on formalistic features such as architectural plans, about the functions of the caravanserais. A new approach, local contextualization, is attempted in order to investigate further functional aspects of Han-abad and Akhan. The activities of a local family who took part in Seljuk high bureaucracy and the local economy give significant clues about the purpose and design of the caravanserais. A second objective is the analysis of the architectural features and ornamentation programs in order to evaluate the influences of local factors. Keywords: Seljuk caravanserais, Denizli, Han-abad (Çardakhan), Akhan, local contextualization. iii ÖZET DENĐZLĐ YAKINLARINDA SELÇUKLU KERVANSARAYLARI: HAN-ABAD (ÇARDAKHAN) VE AKHAN Kutlu, Mehmet Yüksek Lisans, Arkeoloji ve Sanat Tarihi Bölümü Tez Yöneticisi: Dr. Charles Gates Ocak 2009 Denizli yakınlarındaki Selçuklu kervansarayları üzerine olan bu çalışma, yerel tarihi ve sosyo-ekonomik faktörlere özel olarak odaklanmaktadır. Birinci amaç, kervansarayların işlevleri hakkında şekilsel özellikler ve mimari planları temel alan önerilerin sınanmasıdır. Han-abad ve Akhan’ın işlevsel yönlerini daha iyi incelemek için yeni bir yaklaşım, yerel bağlamda değerlendirme, denenmiştir. Selçuklu yüksek bürokrasisinde yeralan yerel bir ailenin faaliyetleri ve yerel ekonomi sözkonusu kervansarayların tasarım ve işlevleri hakkında önemli ipuçları vermektedir. Đkinci amaç, yerel faktörlerin etkilerini değerlendirmek için mimari özellikler ve bezeme programlarının analizidir. Anahtar Kelimeler: Selçuklu Kervansarayları, Denizli, Han-abad (Çardakhan), Akhan, Yerel Bağlamda Değerlendirme, iv TABLE OF CO(cid:30)TE(cid:30)TS ABSTRACT ................................................................................................................ iii ÖZET........................................................................................................................... iv TABLE OF CONTENTS ............................................................................................. v LIST OF FIGURES ................................................................................................... vii CHAPTER I: INTRODUCTION ................................................................................. 1 CHAPTER II: THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL HISTORY OF THE DENĐZLĐ REGION (1070-1308) ................................................................................. 8 2.1 Anatolia before 1071 .......................................................................................... 9 2.2 Anatolia after 1071 ........................................................................................... 11 2.3 The Battle of Myriokephalon ........................................................................... 13 2.4 The Conquest of Laodicea (Denizli) in 1196 ................................................... 14 2.5 The Mongol Invasion and afterwards .............................................................. 17 2.6 Conclusion ....................................................................................................... 20 CHAPTER III : HAN-ABAD CARAVANSERAI (ÇARDAKHAN) ...................... 23 3.1 Location............................................................................................................ 24 3.2 History .............................................................................................................. 25 3.2.1 Inscription ................................................................................................. 26 3.2.2 Patron ........................................................................................................ 27 3.3 Architectural Features ...................................................................................... 29 3.3.1 The Courtyard ........................................................................................... 30 3.3.2 The Shelter ................................................................................................ 32 3.3.3 Construction Techniques and Material ..................................................... 35 3.4 Ornamentation .................................................................................................. 36 3.4.1 Geometric Ornamentation ......................................................................... 36 3.4.2 Figural Ornamentation .............................................................................. 37 CHAPTER IV: AKHAN CARAVANSERAI ........................................................... 40 4.1 Location............................................................................................................ 41 4.2 History .............................................................................................................. 41 4.2.1 Inscriptions ................................................................................................ 43 4.3 Architectural Features ...................................................................................... 44 4.3.1 The Courtyard ........................................................................................... 45 4.3.2 The Shelter ................................................................................................ 48 4.3.3 Construction techniques and material ....................................................... 51 4.4 Ornamentation .................................................................................................. 52 4.4.1 Geometric Ornamentation ......................................................................... 53 4.4.2 Floral Ornamentation ................................................................................ 54 4.4.3 Figural Ornamentation .............................................................................. 55 4.4.3.1 Figures on the right side of the main portal (from top to bottom) ..... 57 4.4.3.2 Figures on the left side of the main portal (from top to bottom) ....... 60 v 4.5 Conclusion ....................................................................................................... 63 CHAPTER V: CONCLUSION .................................................................................. 64 BIBLIOGRAPHY ...................................................................................................... 68 FIGURES ................................................................................................................... 76 vi LIST OF FIGURES Fig. 1. The Limits of Seljuk Province of Ladik (Denizli) [after Vryonis 1971, 14- 15]…………………………………………………………………………………...76 Fig. 2. The Location of Akhan and Han-abad within the Network of the Seljuk Caravanserais in Western Anatolia (after Bektaş 1999, Map VI).………………….77 Fig. 3. The Byzantine and Seljuk Borders during the 12th century (after Kazhdan 1991: 355).…………………………………………………………………………..77 Fig. 4. Western Anatolia after 1204 (after Kazhdan 1991: 357).…………………...78 Fig. 5. Anatolia Before the Mongols (after Cahen 1968: Map III)…………………78 Fig. 6. Ancient Roman Roads and Çardak Castle (after Barnes and Whittow 1998 Fig. 27.1).……………….…………………………………………………………...79 Fig. 7. Çardak Castle and Maymundağı from Han-abad (from the South)…….…...79 Fig. 8. The Foundation Inscription of Han-abad and Two Lion Figures (Pektaş 2007: Fig. 11)………………………………………………………………………..80 Fig. 9. Architectural Plan of Han-abad (after Pektaş 2007: Illustration 1)…………80 Fig. 10. Han-abad’s Location Sloping Down. View of the South Wall and the Triangular Buttress of the Courtyard (from the South)……….…………………….81 Fig. 11. The Spaces or Rooms around the Courtyard (Pektaş 2007: Fig. 3)………..81 Fig. 12. Outer Water Reservoir [F, in the plan] (Pektaş 2007: Fig. 6)……………...82 Fig. 13. The Brick Squinch from Room C……………………………….………….82 Fig. 14. Room A from the Courtyard (from the West)………….………….……….83 vii Fig. 15. The Passage from Room A to Room B…………………………………….83 Fig. 16. Room D from the Courtyard (from the South)……………………….…….84 Fig. 17. Room G and D from the Southwest (Pektaş 2007: Fig. 4)………………....84 Fig. 18. Room H from the Courtyard (from the South)……………………………..85 Fig. 19. Room I from the Courtyard (from the South)…………………………...…85 Fig. 20. Room J from the Courtyard (from the South)……………………………...86 Fig. 21. The Southern Part of the Courtyard (Pektaş 2007: Fig. 8)…………………86 Fig. 22. Room L from the Courtyard (from the North)……………………………..87 Fig. 23. The Stone Footing in the Southern Part of the Courtyard………………….87 Fig. 24. The Portal of the Shelter and Two Cylindrical Buttresses (Pektaş 2007: Fig. 1)…………………………………………………………………………………….88 Fig. 25. The Octagonal Buttress on the Southern Outer Wall of the Shelter……….88 Fig. 26. The Hexagonal Buttress on the Southern Outer Wall of the Shelter……….89 Fig. 27. The Waterspout 1…………………………………………………………..89 Fig. 28. The Waterspout 2…………………………………………………………..89 Fig. 29. The Portal of the Shelter (Pamukkale 2002: 73)…………………………...90 Fig. 30. Central Nave of the Shelter (Pektaş 2007: Fig. 13)………………………...90 Fig. 31. The Southern Side Nave of the Shelter and Its Platforms (www.pamukkale.gov.tr)……………………………………………………………91 Fig. 32. Mortar with Pebbles and Cobbles (from the Northeastern Corner of the Courtyard)……………………………………………………………………….…..91 Fig. 33. The Variation in the Stone Block Sizes (from the Western Outer Wall of the Shelter)………………………………………………………………………………92 Fig. 34. Spolia Blocks from the Western Outer Wall of the Shelter………………..92 Fig. 35. Spolia Blocks from the Western Outer Wall of the Shelter………………..92 viii Fig. 36. Detail of Geometric Ornamentation (Pektaş 2007: Fig. 12)……………….92 Fig. 37. The Bullhead Figure………………………………………………………..93 Fig. 38. The Fish Figures and a Mason Mark (Pektaş 2007: Fig. 14)………………93 Fig. 39. The Fish Figure on the Enclosure Wall of Çınar Mosque, at Çardak……...93 Fig. 40. The Figure of Human Head or Chimpanzee Head…………………………94 Fig. 41. Architectural Plan of Akhan (after Bayhan 2006: 290, Illustration 1)……..94 Fig. 42. Akhan is on the Denizli-Dinar –Afyonkarahisar Highway (Bayhan 2007: Fig.1)………………………………………………………………………………...95 Fig. 43. The Portal of Akhan’s Shelter and Its Inscription………………………….95 Fig. 44. Akhan’s Main Portal and Its Inscription…………………………………...96 Fig. 45. The Courtyard of Akhan……………………………………………………96 Fig. 46. Left Mihrabiya of the Main Portal…………………………………………97 Fig. 47. Right Mihrabiya of the Main Portal………………………………………..97 Fig. 48. The Cylindrical Buttresses of Akhan………………………………………97 Fig. 49. Space or Room A, B, and C………………………………………………..98 Fig. 50. Room A and B (Inner Bath Facilities)…………………...…………………98 Fig. 51. The Portico of Akhan’s Courtyard (Bayhan 2007: Fig. 11)………………..99 Fig. 52. The Windows of Room F (Bayhan 2007: Fig. 12)…………………………99 Fig. 53. Room F from Outside and Its Roof…………………..…………………...100 Fig. 54. The Polygonal Buttresses on the Eastern Outer Wall of the Shelter……...100 Fig. 55. The Polygonal Buttresses on the Western Outer Wall of the Shelter…….101 Fig. 56. The Pointed Arches and Barrel Vaults in the Shelter (Bayhan 2007: Fig. 14)………………………………………………………………………………….101 Fig. 57. The Well-cut Stone Blocks on the Outer Walls of the Courtyard………...102 Fig. 58. The Re-used Stone Block with Medusa Head Depiction…………………102 ix