The arch of the iwan-room on top of the Kesikbaşlar Türbesi (Grave of the beheadeds), in the southeastern corner of the ‘Orta Sofa’ (Middle hall) or ‘Türbedar Odası’ (room of the ‘Türbedar’ = head of the personnel taking care of the graves). The brickwork is original 13th century Seljuk.

An iwan (Persian & Turkish: ‘eyvān’) is a rectangular hall or space, usually vaulted, walled on three sides, with one end entirely open. This architectural form can be used for entrances, but also (as it is the case here) to create half open rooms looking out at a central yard. The iwan as used in Anatolian Seljuk architecture was imported from Islamic Persia, but was invented much earlier and fully developed in Mesopotamia.

Correspondent: J.M.Criel, Antwerpen.
Sources: Leaflet of the Seyitgazi Külliyesi (1995)