|
|
|
HISTORICAL
SITES
|
|
|
|
 URGUP
|
 One
of the most important centers in Cappadocia is Urgup, 20
km to the east of Nevsehir. Like Goreme, Urgup also had
different names in history; Osiana (Assiana) in the Byzantine
Period, Bashisar during the Seljuk Peroid, Burgut Castle in
the Ottoman Period and Urgup as of the early years of the Republic.
The earliest known settlement in the area was
on the skirts of Mount Avla, to the north of Damsa river called
as “Tomissos” in the antiquety. Though, the most important
remains belonging to the later period are the Roman tombs found
in the towns and villages near Urgup. Also an important religious
center during the Byzantine Period, Urgup was a bishopric of
the rock-cut churches and monasteries found in the villages,
towns and valleys cut churches and monastreies found in the
villages, towns and valleys around Urgup.
In the 11th century, Urgup was an important citadel
connecting with Ni?de and Konya, important towns of Seljuks.
The two buildings from this period are the Altikapili (Six
Gates) and Temenni Tepesi (Wish Hill) tombs found in the town
center. The 13th century Altikapili tomb, housing the remains
of a mother and her two daughters, has six sides each with
an arched window and no roof. Although researchers think that
this is unlikely, one of the two tombs on the Temenni Hill
is believed to belong to Seljuk Sultan Ruknettin Kilicarslan
Iv, built by Vecihi Pasha in 1268 and is known as “Kilicarsalan
Tomb” by the locals. The other one is believed to belong to
Alaaddin Keykubat III.
Urgup became a part of the Ottoman empire in
1515. It was the first time in the 18th century when Damat
Ybrahim Pasha, the Ottoman Grand Vezier, established the governorship
in Nevsehir (Muskara). Urgup was then administered by the governorship
making Urgup secondary in importance.
In his history and geography book “Kamus-ul Alam”
written between 1888 and 1890, Semseddin Sami mentions 70 mosques,
5 churches and 11 libraries in Urgup.
Pancarlik Church
Pancarlik valley lies to the south of Ortahisar,
and to the right of the road leading from Urgup to Mustafapasa.
The Pancarlik Church has one nave, one apse and a flat ceiling.
The frescoes in this church are well preserved, and most of
them are painted on a green background. At first glance it
appears that two different artists were responsible for the
paintings, but on closer inspection it is apparent that the
same artist painted all the frescoes. Yn the church, the scenes
from the Bible follow one another in sequence and portraits
of saints in insets border these scenes on both sides. The
churc dates back to the first half of the 11th century.
Tagar Church (Of St.Theodore)
The village of Yesiloz, which houses the Tagar
Tagar Church (Of St.Theodore), lies to the right of the urgup-Kayseri
road, about 8.5km from Urgup. The dome of this “T” planned
church is now covered in glass, the original having collapsed.
The upper floor galerry is reached by a stairway, and this
is the only example of such churc architecture in Cappadocia.
The generally well preserved frescoes were painted by three
artists, all in their own style. This church, devoted to St.Theodore,
dates back to the 11th-13th centuries.
Mustafa Pasa (Sinasos)
Mustafapaşa 6km to the south of Ürgüp, was inhabited
by Greek Orthodox families until the beginning of the 20th
century. The houses dating back to the end of the 19th and
beginning of the 20th centuries display fine examples of stonework.
The Gömede valley, to the west of Mustafapaşa, resembles a
small version of the Ihlara valley. As at Ihlara, the walls
of the valley house churches and shelters carved from the rock,
and a river runs through the valley.
The important churches and monastreies around
Mustafapaşa are, the church of Aios Vasilos, the Church of
Constantine-HNelene, churches in the Monastery Valley and,
the Church of St.Basil in the Gömede valley.
There is also a caravanserai built during the
Ottoman period and displaying fine examples of stone masonry
and woodcraft.
|
