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Andrys Basten | profile | all galleries >> TURKEY Photos - Anatolia, 2004, with Canon Elph >> Ankara , its museum, and Aksaray - photos tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

Flying to Istanbul - First views and photos | Istanbul - Sultanahmet photos | Photos: Istanbul Archaeological Museums: Alexander the Great | Istanbul's Bosphorus Cruise | Ankara , its museum, and Aksaray - photos | Cappadocia Balloon Ride Photos | Cappadocia Hot Air Balloon Ride VIDEOclips (LOUD) | Cappadocia photos 2 | Cappadocia photos 3 | Photos: Goreme Open Air Museum frescos | Antakya and Mosaic Museum photos | Gaziantep photos, mosaics - Zeugma (Belkis) | Abraham's Pool & Harran - photos | Photos: Mt Nemrut heads, Perre-Perin, and Diyarbakir | Photos: Akdamar Island, Lake Van | Ishak Pasha Sarayi photos | Photos: In search of Noah's Ark - Mt. Ararat | Erzurum photos | Ephesus photos | Ephesus Museum and Selcuk photos | Pergamon acropolis ( Pergamum photos ) | Pergamon Asclepion - Pergamum Aesklepion | Aphrodisias site and museum - photos | Pamukkale photos ( Hierapolis ) | Dalyan photos - Turkey | Dalyan to Kaunos boat - photos | Lycian Telmessos | Kalkan - Kas photos | Photos: Kekova - Simena by Boat | Photos: St. Nicholas church. Old St. Nick origin | Myra, Antalya, Aspendos - photos | The Love Boat (Intro)

Ankara , its museum, and Aksaray - photos

This is where we actually started our 26-day trip through this incredibly varied country so rich in history and landscape.
 The gallery trip-report began with Istanbul for various reasons, but the rest of this trip is in the order we saw Turkey, starting Sept. 27, 2005.

  We flew to Ankara from San Francisco with a focus on getting to the fantasy land of Cappadocia, via rental car and driver-guide for the Cappadocia and SouthEast portions of this country (at one point we were only 2 miles from the Iran border). SFO airport photo shows my work-laptop working for the last time that trip, which was my cue to play!

Ankara, the 2nd largest city in Turkey and its capital since 1923, is very Western in flavor though we found the Mediterranean cities even more so.  Located in Central Anatolia, Ankara (after the Celtic word for 'anchor') is also a big university town.  In addition, every wing of the military is based here.   Unfortunately, we had time only to visit its renown Museum of Anatolian Civilization before we headed off for Aksaray and Cappadocia.


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It's always hard to believe you're in a wholly different country the first day or night, but the
decor helped.
First night in Turkey - definitely not a U.S. Motel 6

It's always hard to believe you're in a wholly different country the first day or night, but the
decor helped.

This was a bit after midnight, Sept. 28, after 17 hours of flying etc, SFO via Munich to Ankara.
Not your usual hotel bedroom lights

This was a bit after midnight, Sept. 28, after 17 hours of flying etc, SFO via Munich to Ankara.

These huge basins are very popular in Turkey and great to use.
These huge basins are very popular in Turkey and great to use.
These are from the hotel window and I was thrilled to finally be on this vacation.
My first look at Turkey.  Ankara in the morning, about 6:51 am

These are from the hotel window and I was thrilled to finally be on this vacation.

A couple of hours later, our Southeast guide phoned us to say he'd be there to take us to Ankara's
museum.  This was news to us but welcome.  He was to drive our rental car (and us)to Cappadocia later.
A zoomed shot of the morning's golden light

A couple of hours later, our Southeast guide phoned us to say he'd be there to take us to Ankara's
museum. This was news to us but welcome. He was to drive our rental car (and us)to Cappadocia later.

From Catal Hoyuk, this fertility figure (about 7,000 yrs old with 2 leopards at her
side (and some say, giving birth here), is the most well-known figure of its type. Goddess 
of Beasts, she developed later into Artemis.

This carving in baked clay was unearthed by archeologist James Mellaart in 1961.

Excellent ongoing-excavations site.
Interesting article by Alvino.
See another version from Catal Huyuk in a photo by Lillian Bennett.
Oldest Mother Goddess figurine, from Catalhoyuk, 6th C. BC

From Catal Hoyuk, this fertility figure (about 7,000 yrs old with 2 leopards at her
side (and some say, giving birth here), is the most well-known figure of its type. Goddess
of Beasts, she developed later into Artemis.

This carving in baked clay was unearthed by archeologist James Mellaart in 1961.

Excellent ongoing-excavations site.
Interesting article by Alvino.
See another version from Catal Huyuk in a photo by Lillian Bennett.


Not ultra-large, it's a very attractive museum.
Inside the Ankara Museum

Not ultra-large, it's a very attractive museum.

Neolithic wall paintings.   I especially liked the horse on the left.
Neolithic wall paintings.  I especially liked the horse on the left.
An illustrated map of Turkey on museum wall
An illustrated map of Turkey on museum wall
Wearing a high crown here, Cybele ( Sibyl ) is often associated with music, and legend credits 
her with creating many instruments, including the tambourine.
Phyrgian mother goddess Cybele, with
2 (small) musicians at her side,~1000 BC

Wearing a high crown here, Cybele ( Sibyl ) is often associated with music, and legend credits
her with creating many instruments, including the tambourine.

Made of limestone, these figures are definitely cheery.   Not just about fertility, Cybele also
symbolizes prosperity and good times.   Detail of interestingly pleated dress.
The musicians, with flute and lyre.  From Bogazkoy

Made of limestone, these figures are definitely cheery.  Not just about fertility, Cybele also
symbolizes prosperity and good times.  Detail of interestingly pleated dress.

This figure was in a tall glass container and that's the reflection of the museum around her. 
 The tall head-dress ( polos ) and pleated dress indicate Greek influence.
She is obviously enjoying the music. :-)

This figure was in a tall glass container and that's the reflection of the museum around her.
 The tall head-dress ( polos ) and pleated dress indicate Greek influence.

I liked the look of pure pleasure against the reflections of the museum.
Detail from another shot of blissed-out state

I liked the look of pure pleasure against the reflections of the museum.

These are said to imitate Assyrian style.
One of several Neo-Hittite war chariot and hunting reliefs

These are said to imitate Assyrian style.

Above the bas-relief is a photograph taken at the time of discovery of this piece.
Musicians - maybe first image of a guitar, ~1500 BC

Above the bas-relief is a photograph taken at the time of discovery of this piece.

These sphinxes look a bit dubious about my taking their photo.
These sphinxes look a bit dubious about my taking their photo.
I had thought it was probably from Hattusa, but the Guest below identified its source for us.
Relief of lion head and paws, from Alacahoyuk

I had thought it was probably from Hattusa, but the Guest below identified its source for us.

More Neo-Hittite war chariot reliefs
More Neo-Hittite war chariot reliefs
Malatya is now Battalgazi, and Aslantepe(Lion Hill) is the settlement nearby that produced this specimen.
Famous statue of Hittite King Tarhunza of ancient Malatya

Malatya is now Battalgazi, and Aslantepe(Lion Hill) is the settlement nearby that produced this specimen.

Excavations found, at Aslantepe - Malatya, an urban city with an organized government in 6500 BC.
Closer up - the statue was discovered in the 30s.

Excavations found, at Aslantepe - Malatya, an urban city with an organized government in 6500 BC.

Hittite relief of kings and godswith interesting shoes
Hittite relief of kings and gods
with interesting shoes
The smaller stone on top, left.   Shared meal on a great chair.
The smaller stone on top, left. Shared meal on a great chair.
The little chariot scene placed above the large stone
The little chariot scene placed above the large stone
I love the spirit of this one.
Detail from scene

I love the spirit of this one.

Late and excellent lunch on the way to Cappadocia
Late and excellent lunch on the way to Cappadocia
Inside the lunch place, with bemused guide, Semih
Inside the lunch place, with bemused guide, Semih
We stopped by this cavaransary in Cappadocia about 6:30pm near sundown
and had a few minutes of light left.
At Aksaray's ancient caravan stop at Agzikarahan

We stopped by this cavaransary in Cappadocia about 6:30pm near sundown
and had a few minutes of light left.

They began building this in 1231 during the reign of Aladdin Keykubad and it wasn't finished 
until the reign of his son.  Semih is walking toward the area that held the camels and some lodging.
Agzikarahan Cavaransaray is on the Aksaray-Nevsehir road.

They began building this in 1231 during the reign of Aladdin Keykubad and it wasn't finished
until the reign of his son. Semih is walking toward the area that held the camels and some lodging.

The courtyard has carpets, of course, as this seems to be The Tourist Product.  Camel-train 
stops on The Silk Road served as lodging and market areas, some with small mosques.  It was
amazing to actually be in one of these.
Carpets everywhere in Turkey

The courtyard has carpets, of course, as this seems to be The Tourist Product. Camel-train
stops on The Silk Road served as lodging and market areas, some with small mosques. It was
amazing to actually be in one of these.

This word is spelled in various ways .. cavaransarays .. cavaransaries .. cavaransarais .. kervansarays

  This is called a 'closed' room.
These started as military forts and expanded into cavaransaries.

This word is spelled in various ways .. cavaransarays .. cavaransaries .. cavaransarais .. kervansarays

 This is called a 'closed' room.

The state built caravansaries and also compensated merchants who were attacked or robbed,
providing a sort of insurance system.
Looking in another one, you can see what
were stable areas and tiny window at top.

The state built caravansaries and also compensated merchants who were attacked or robbed,
providing a sort of insurance system.

The cavaransarais were built of hewn volcanic stone, thick and
high for security from raiders.  Portal doors were made of iron.  This site is
also called Hoca Mesud Kervansaray.
A small pavilion mosque in courtyard

The cavaransarais were built of hewn volcanic stone, thick and
high for security from raiders. Portal doors were made of iron. This site is
also called Hoca Mesud Kervansaray.