©The Archaeological Settlements of Turkey - TAY Project

Alahan Manastiri

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Alahan Manastiri
Type:
 Monastery
Plan Type:
 Unknown
Year of Costruction:
 5th - 6th c.
Phase:
 Early
Investigation Method:
 Survey Excavation
Altitude:
Region:
 Central Anatolia
Province:
 Karaman
District:
 Merkez
Village:
 Alacadag
Antique Name:
 Isaura

     

Location: It is located on the southern slopes of Mount Alahan of Taurus; on the Mut-Silifke motorway in Mut District of Karaman Province. (Although this structure is within the borders of Mut District / Mersin, it is designated here as it is located within the borders of Karaman since it is more closer to Karaman).
Geography and Environment:
Research and Excavation: L.C. de Laborde, A.C. Headlam, P. Verzone, M. Gough, E. Bean, Stryzgowsky, R. Kautzch, R. Krautheimer and Semavi Eyice have surveyed and researched the area. The structure has been visited by Evliya Çelebi as well.
Description: Architectural Features: The monastery complex is located in the area called as Adapnas by Prokopios and Alacahan by Evliya. The building complex was built by Tarasis and the researchers date the building to the 5th-6th century. The building complex consists of monk cells, the west chapel, a portico-gallery, a baptistery, rock-cut grave niches, the east basilica and water channels. The East basilica: it extends in the east-west direction and was built in the form of doomed basilica. The structure was built with regular cut-stones and it has three naves. It shows fine workmanship. The north façade of the basilica consisting of narthex, naos, apsis and pastophorion was carved onto the rock. There is a courtyard on the west of the church. The corridor that cuts through this courtyard in the south direction joins the church from the section where the narthex is located. The traces of console show that there was a wooden roofed section here. To the north of this narthex locates an arcosolium niche carved into the rock. The arched openings arranged as triforium provide access from the narthex to the naos. The naos has three naves and the one at the center is larger and higher than the others. In each rows of the nave, three protuberant large pillars and two smaller columns were used. The roofing was supported with these pillars interconnected with large arches. The smaller columns supports the galleries on the top of the lateral naves. The most important thing that makes this structure special is the section that rises like a tower on the top of the central nave. This section was reinforced by arches and pillars and there are rounded arched windows on each façade of the body walls. The squinches were used in the roofing of this section. The researches have different opinions about this roofing that is not preserved up to date. The interior section of the main apse of the structure was built in the shape of semi-circle. The exterior section, on the other hand, was arranged as straight wall. The same application can be seen in the apses of the lateral naves as well. However these apses are different from the main apse. They reach up to the bema. The rooms called pastophorion hereby were formed at the both sides of the main apse. These rooms and the sections remain in between the apses of the lateral naves were linked up with the central nave through the arched openings. It is lightened by two arched windows that were opened on the main apse. The pastophorion rooms receive light through the arched openings. The West Basilica: The structure built in the east-west direction is in basilical form with three naves. It was carefully built with regular cut-stones. The structure consists of a narthex, a naos and an apse. The north façade of the church is carved into the rock. The narthex has been heavily damaged. From here, the naos is entered through an arched opening. The naos has three naves and the one at the center is larger and higher than the lateral naves. Each rows of the nave have three columns and the columns have Corinthian capitals. These columns that were connected through arches carry the roofing. Since the roofing is not preserved up to date, it is not possible to say certain things about it. As a result of the studies, small fragments of columns were found. It is postulated that these columns found belong to the gallery on the top of the lateral naves. The apse of the church is in semi-circular shape. It receives light through two windows opened on it. The structure is rich in terms of decoration. Although these decorations are not preserved in situ, there are cross, fish, bunch of grapes and pomegranate motifs were made in relief technique among the remains. In the later period, a chapel with a single nave was built in the central nave. During the construction the bema and apse belonging to the former church were used. During the excavation studies, this single naved chapel form of the structure was removed. This structure built with the materials belonging to former structure consists of narthex, naos, apse and pastophorion. The naos is accessible through an arched opening form the narthex and the lintel and jamb of this door were carefully embellished. The naos consists of a single nave and there are pillars protruding from the walls. It is believed that the roofing was covered with a vault through these pillars connected to each other with arches. The interior section of the apse was built in the shape of semi-circle. The exterior section, on the other hand, ends up as straight wall. The rooms at the sides hereby were converted into pastophorion rooms. There is a synthronon section inside the apse. The structure is rich in terms of stone ornaments. The results of the study and the remains indicate that there are mosaics in the structure as well. The Monk Cells: The complex begins with the rooms carved into rock. There is a natural cave at this section. The researches claim that this cave might have been the core of the religious center here. In time, the cave was overhauled and became the apse of the grave chapel. There is another chapel with a single nave at the upper elevation of the rooms carved into rock. The Portico-gallery: The large courtyard locates to the east of the west basilica. There are rooms carved into rock on the north section facing to Alacahan. The road with gallery, which is about 115 m long, heading to the east basilica is located to the south section facing to the plain. The road is situated at the different elevations and some researchers claim that the road has never been completed. Fragments of column bases and arches belonging to the portico of this gallery were discovered during the studies. A little further, the road with stairs originating from the plain on the south joins the gallery, in the area where the baptistery is located. According to the researches, the complex is one of the most important centers in Middle Age. The visitors also follow this road in order to reach the complex. Here, processions are being hold for the visitors. The Baptistery: The structure in the form of basilica extends in the east-west direction and it has two naves. It was carefully built with regular cut-stones. The structure consisting of narthex, baptismal pool and apse was regarded as a church by some researchers. The structure is entered through the narthex on the south front. There are two rectangular planned rooms inside the structure. These rooms were separated from each other with three columns arranged in a row. It is believed that the structure was covered with a dome. There are stairs on each arms of the baptismal pool in the form of cross. The pipes supplying water to the pool can still be seen. The structure has two semi-circular apses. In the apse of the nave, where the baptismal pool is situated, synthronon section and the feet that might belong to an altar at the center were found. The fresco remains found on the interior walls of the apse are also noteworthy. The Rock-cut Grave-niches: There are arcosolium niches carved into rock on the slopes of Alacahan, the north of the monastery complex on the east of the baptistery. At the front section of the arcosolium graves, a stone slab with tabula ansata and a lid placed on it were found. One of these graves belongs to Tarasis, presumably the founder of this complex. Decorative Features: The monastery is rich in stone ornament. These decorations, which were formed in relief in the east church, are also rich in terms of themes. Bead motifs, palmette and acanthus motifs belonging to the Early Byzantine period were depicted. Also iconographic motifs such as bunch of grapes, grape, fish and cross belonging to the Early Christianity were applied. In addition, using anthropomorphic figures in such a structure is surprising. Eagle and ram reliefs decorate the center of the most of the composite capitals in the naos. Such a dense and rich decoration arrangement shows the development of the stonemasonry in the region. At the center of the portico-gallery, there is an aedicula niche among the arches of the portico. This section is quite rich in decoration and well-preserved.
Finds:
Interpretation: Gough, who conducted excavations in the complex, suggests that there are huge similarities between the west basilica and the Church of the Acheiropoietos (known as Eski Cuma Cami) in Thessaloniki. The researchers have different ideas about the roofing of the east basilica that rises like a tower as well. Although Verzone stated that the roofing might has been built with lighter material, he described the basilica with a dome in his restitution studies. Forsyth, on the other hand, depicted the structure with pyramidal cone. The similar kind of applications are seen in the structure numbered 8, which is in cross and octagonal plan, in Madensehir. Gough stated that this section was covered with wooden. He supports his idea with the fact that the narthex of the structure was once covered with wooden. He also claims that the tower and tromps were not capable to support a stone dome and the quantity of the stone material found are not enough to build a stone dome. Although he stated that the tromps were built with the purpose of decoration, he also claimed that in such a region where the people were a past master at stonemasonry, it is not clear that why this structure was built in such an arrangement.
Destruction:


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