ANZ Guesthouse / Hostel - Selcuk / Ephesus. Selçuk/Ephesus - Turkey
tel +90-(0)232-892-6050
fax +90-(0)232-892-1594
info@anzguesthouse.com

The best hostel / guesthouse accommodation in Selçuk!

Silk Road Hans in Turkey


Ağzıkarahan Kervansarayları

This shows one of the gateways within the Ağzıkarahan Kervansarayları, a "truck stop" on the Silk Road from around 1000 to 1500 AD. This is along the road from Konya to Göreme.

Ağzıkarahan Kervansarayları Ağzıkarahan Kervansarayları
Ağzıkarahan Kervansarayları

A han is a fortified structure, usually roughly square in outer shape. The center is an open courtyard, with covered halls off the sides. The above is an entrance to one of those halls.

The tolls paid by caravans to use the road allowed them to stay for one or a few nights in each han along the way. They could rest, get food for the men and animals, and repair or replace their gear.

There are detailed carvings and a niche within the gateway at the Ağzıkarahan Kervansarayları.

The carvings feature very detailed geometric patterns and knot-like designs. Some recent scientific papers have argued that Islamic civilization centuries ago was even more mathematically advanced than we usually think, and the proof of this is in the complexity of designs. See the journal Science in the winter of 2007.


Karatay Han

Karatay Han

Karatay Han, at the village of Karatay, east of Kayseri.

This is a view from up on the main wall, toward the entrance from the courtyard into one of the main covered halls.


Karatay Han

Main entryway of Karatay Han as seen from outside.


Karatay Han
Karatay Han

Structures in the courtyard of Karatay Han.


Karatay Han

Gateway off the courtyard of Karatay Han.


Karatay Han

Detail of the stonework on the gateway off the courtyard of Karatay Han.


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ANZ Guesthouse / Hostel - Selcuk / Ephesus. Selçuk/Ephesus - Turkey
tel +90-(0)232-892-6050
fax +90-(0)232-892-1594
info@anzguesthouse.com

The best hostel / guesthouse accommodation in Selçuk!


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