The pishtaq of the Sultan Han caravanserai. The pishtaq entrance, carved of fine grained-limestone, is framed by richly ornamented relief and a muqarnas vault. Punctuating the pishtaq are two zig-zag engaged colonnettes, while their capitals are decorated with the common acanthus imagery of the corinthian order (See AQ.060)
Sultan Han was built in 1229 along the Uzun Yolu (Long Road) trade route linking Konya and Aksaray and extending to Persia. The caravanserai is highly fortified and was built to equip traders, wealthy men, doctors, and their animals and cargo. -CK
Creation date unknown. Photograph processed September 1967. Formerly catalogued as B42.059. Notes written on the slide or index: Sultanhanı.
