Hunat Hatun Complex
Hunat Hatun Kulliye, which consists of a mosque, a madrasa, a bath and a tomb, was built in 1238 by Mahperi Hunat Hatun, the wife of Alaaddin Keykubat I. The complex is one of the most beautiful and most important examples of Seljuk works in Anatolia, both in its general appearance and the way it was built.
During the Seljuk period, the title "Huvand" was given to the Seljuk palace family as a special title. The mosque was named "Hunat Mosque" because Mahperi Hatun also used this title. Hunat Mosque has a mihrab and a pulpit with a very high historical value.
Hunat Hatun Mosque, which perfectly reflects the elegance of stone with its geometric shapes and plant figures, with its ornate crown door, and the madrasa with its admirable high arched main door, is one of the indispensable historical stops for visitors to Kayseri.
The residence area of the complex is 2,203 square meters. The main entrance door on the west side of the mosque is decorated with a masterpiece. The mosque has three gates. They open to the north, west and east. The main gate is on the west. On the left side of the entrance of this gate, at the northern end of the mosque, is the tomb of Mahperi Hunat Hatun.
The largest sarcophagus found in the Vault in the Hunat Madrasa belongs to Hunat Hatun, and the other belongs to Selçuki Hatun, the daughter of Sultan Gıyaseddin Keyhüsrev. The third is thought to belong to a lady from the dynasty.
The mosque, which was built without a minaret and with an open middle, adhering to the Seljuk architectural tradition, is decorated with a ceiling vault, which is placed on arches fed by forty-eight large pillars. The dome in the middle was built later. Its minaret was built during the reign of Abdulhamid II.
The rear part of the mosque was used as a summer residence during the Seljuk period. Later, it was completely closed and brought into its present form.
During the Seljuk period, the title "Huvand" was given to the Seljuk palace family as a special title. The mosque was named "Hunat Mosque" because Mahperi Hatun also used this title. Hunat Mosque has a mihrab and a pulpit with a very high historical value.
Hunat Hatun Mosque, which perfectly reflects the elegance of stone with its geometric shapes and plant figures, with its ornate crown door, and the madrasa with its admirable high arched main door, is one of the indispensable historical stops for visitors to Kayseri.
The residence area of the complex is 2,203 square meters. The main entrance door on the west side of the mosque is decorated with a masterpiece. The mosque has three gates. They open to the north, west and east. The main gate is on the west. On the left side of the entrance of this gate, at the northern end of the mosque, is the tomb of Mahperi Hunat Hatun.
The largest sarcophagus found in the Vault in the Hunat Madrasa belongs to Hunat Hatun, and the other belongs to Selçuki Hatun, the daughter of Sultan Gıyaseddin Keyhüsrev. The third is thought to belong to a lady from the dynasty.
The mosque, which was built without a minaret and with an open middle, adhering to the Seljuk architectural tradition, is decorated with a ceiling vault, which is placed on arches fed by forty-eight large pillars. The dome in the middle was built later. Its minaret was built during the reign of Abdulhamid II.
The rear part of the mosque was used as a summer residence during the Seljuk period. Later, it was completely closed and brought into its present form.
Erciyes College Social Studies Department
Note: Generations Gathering Project has been carried out since 2016 by the secondary school social studies department and students, as a unique work for Erciyes College. You can click to watch the video narration of this project with the comments of our students.