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HISTORICAL
SITES
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 GULSEHIR
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 The
old name of Gülşehir, situated on the southem bank
of the Red River, 12 km from Avanos, is Arapsun and
in ancient times it was called “Zoropassos”. The ottoman Grand
Vezier Karavezir Mehmet Seyyid Pasha did the same thing in
Gülşehir as Damat İbrahim Pasha did in Nevşehir and a külliye
was built in the town which had only 30 houses. The complex
consisted of a mosque, a madrassa and a fountain.
Aciksaray Ruins
This important area of ruins is situated 3km from Gülşehir.
There are numerous rock cuttings including Roman tombs, and
churches dating back to the 9th 11th centuries in this important
bishopric. The mihrab in “the Mescid of Hacı Bektaş-i Veli”,
it is called by locals, is interesting as it is a well preserved
islamic building. To the west side of the mescid, with a square-like
plan, are some quite large niches.
Rock formations in the shape o mushrooms are unique to this
area.
Karsi Church (Of St John)
The two floor church of St.John, found on entering Gülşehir,
houses a church, wine cellar, graves, water channels and living
quarters on the lower floor, and a church decorated with Biblical
scenes on the upper floor.
The lower floor church is built to the shape of a cross, has
one apse and arms of the cross are barrel vaulted. The central
dome is collapsed. Stylized animals, geometrical and crucifix
designs are used to decorate the church in red onchre, which
was applied directly onto the rock. The upper church has one
apse, and is barrel-vaulted. Apart from those on the apse,
the well-preserved frescoes were covered in a layer of black
soot. The churc’s present state owes to restoration and conservation
done by Rıdvan İşler in 1995.
The scenes of Jesus and the Bible are in the form of friezes
within the borders. Yellow and red colors have been used on
a black background. On the niche vault and on the west and
south walls Last Judgement can be found, a scene rarely depicted
in Cappadocian churches. According to the inscription on the
apse, the church is dated to 1212.
Scenes : Deesis on the apse, on its front Annunciation, below
bird designs, on the barrel vault portrait of Saints in medallions,
on the south wing of the vault Last Supper, Betrayal by Judas,
Baptism, below Koemesis, on the north wings of the vault Descent
from the Cross, Women at the Tomb, Anastasis, on the West and
South walls Last Judgement.
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