Sahip Ata Külliyesi

Sahip Ata Külliyesi is a historical complex constructed in the 13th century in Konya by Sahip Ata Fahreddin Ali, a vizier of the Seljuk State of Anatolia. The complex includes a mosque, hânikâh, tomb, double bathhouse, sebil, and shops. The current form of the külliye emerged through the gradual integration of structures built at different times rather than from a single unified plan. Located in the Larende district (ancient city gate) of Konya, at the intersection of the Karaman and Meram roads, the complex is regarded as one of the most significant architectural initiatives undertaken during the reconstruction of Anatolia following the Battle of Köse Dağ. It was completed in stages between 1258 and 1283.^【1】

^{Sahip Ata Külliyesi (}Konya Governorship⁾

Sahip Ata Fahreddin Ali (son of Hacı Ebubekir, grandson of Hüseyin), who commissioned the construction of the külliye, served the state for approximately forty years in roles including emir-i dâd, deputy sultan, and vizier. Known among the people as "ebü'l-hayrât" (father of good deeds) due to his numerous charitable works, the vizier died in 1288 and was buried in the tomb within the külliye. The architect of the central buildings is Kölük bin Abdullah, whose name is recorded on the crown portal medallions as "Amel-i Kölük bin Abdullah".

The buildings of the külliye were constructed progressively over time. Construction began in 1258 with the mosque. Subsequently, in 1276, a tomb was erected in front of the mosque’s mihrab in memory of Sahip Ata’s two sons who perished in the "Cimri Incident". During the reign of III. Gıyâseddin Keyhüsrev, in 1279, a hânikâh was added to the south of these structures. After his death, Sahip Ata wished to be buried alongside his sons under the same roof; therefore, the original tomb was demolished and in 1283 a larger family tomb with entrances opening into both the mosque and the hânikâh was constructed, forming the present structure.^【2】

Sahip Ata Külliyesi is a typical example of the Seljuk architectural concept of a "multifunctional complex". The külliye comprises a mosque, tomb, hânikâh, sebil, çeşme, shops, and a hamam. The buildings were arranged organically according to terrain conditions and construction phases.

^{Wooden Columned Mosque Exhibiting Seljuk Architectural Characteristics (}AA⁾

The mosque, as the central structure of the külliye, represents a revolutionary development in architectural history regarding the relationship between the crown portal and minarets.

• Crown Portal: Designed by architect Kölük bin Abdullah, the mosque’s crown portal is the earliest known example in Anatolia of a double-minaret portal design. The portal presents a monumental façade with a muqarnas vault, two flanking niches, and geometrically decorated moldings. The two sebils projecting outward from either side of the portal add plastic depth to the façade.
• Minarets: In the original design, two symmetrical brick minarets rose on either side of the crown portal. Only the right (western) minaret survives today. The minaret shaft is decorated with turquoise glazed brickwork and geometric zigzags. During the 2007 restoration and photogrammetric surveys, traces of the foundations and base of the left minaret were technically identified.
• Prayer Hall and Mihrab: After the fire of 1871, the prayer hall was rebuilt with twelve wooden columns and a broken roof. However, the most significant surviving element from the original Seljuk phase is the ceramic mosaic mihrab. The mihrab is covered with geometric interlacing, rumi motifs, and inscriptions in sulus script, drawing attention through the intensive use of purple and turquoise tiles.

^{Sahip Ata Hânikâh (}Sahip Ata Foundation Museum⁾

The hânikâh, located south of the mosque, was constructed between 1279 and 1280. It consists of rooms arranged around a central courtyard (or domed space) and follows a four-ayvan plan schema.

• Hânikâh Crown Portal: Compared to the ornate portal of the mosque, the hânikâh’s portal exhibits a more restrained but balanced stonework. Geometric compositions and star motifs predominate here. Architectural analyses indicate that the ratio of solid to void in the hânikâh’s portal reflects the maturity of Seljuk stone art.

^{Sahip Ata Tomb (}Sahip Ata Foundation Museum⁾

The tomb of the külliye is situated in the space between the qibla wall of the mosque and the northern wall of the hânikâh, with entrances opening into both structures.

• Interior Space and Sarcophagi: Inside the tomb are six sarcophagi belonging to Sahip Ata Fahreddin Ali and his family members. The interior space, including the sarcophagi, is entirely covered in dense ceramic decoration. The ceramic mosaic tiles used in the dome transitions integrate the spiritual atmosphere of the tomb with architectural aesthetics.

The bathhouse, an independent component of the külliye, is located opposite the hânikâh and functions as a "double bathhouse" with separate sections for women and men. The hot rooms are equipped with classical Seljuk dome structures and water supply systems. The two sebils placed on either side of the crown portal enhance the külliye’s public service function and serve as integral elements completing the façade’s architectural composition.

Since its construction, Sahip Ata Külliyesi has required frequent repairs due to earthquakes and major fires experienced by Konya. Based on archival records and inscriptions, the restoration processes the complex underwent are detailed as follows:

The complex suffered significant deterioration during the Ottoman period, particularly in the mosque and bathhouse sections. Documented repairs took place in 1570, 1825, and 1848.^【3】 However, the most critical turning point in the külliye’s history occurred during the 19th century fires. These fires completely destroyed the original wooden-columned prayer hall. In 1871, a comprehensive reconstruction effort raised the mosque in its current form: with a broken roof, tiled covering, and supported by twelve wooden columns. Although this reconstruction departed from the original plan, efforts were made to preserve original stone and ceramic elements such as the crown portal, sebils, and mihrab.

Restoration efforts became more scientific from the 1960s onward. Following repairs to the mosque and hânikâh between 1960 and 1962, archaeological excavations, test borings, and cleaning operations were conducted in the courtyard and surrounding areas in 1964 and 1974.^【4】 These excavations revealed the mosque’s original subterranean foundations and early construction plan features. This data has served as a primary source for the development of restoration projects.

The most recent and comprehensive restoration of the külliye was initiated by the General Directorate of Foundations between 2006 and 2007. The following technical interventions were implemented:

• Stone and Brick Conservation: Dirt and soiling on the historic crown portal and the surviving western minaret were cleaned; erosion on stone surfaces was stabilized using materials matching the original.
• Ceramic Restoration: The Seljuk-era ceramic mosaic mihrab of the mosque and the ceramic decorations on the sarcophagi inside the tomb were meticulously restored.
• Structural Reinforcement: The mosque’s roof and wooden load-bearing columns were reviewed, and flooring was renewed.
• Digital Documentation: Parallel to the restoration, a three-dimensional digital model of the structure was created using terrestrial photogrammetry to monitor potential future deterioration. These digital surveying efforts ensured precise recording of every millimeter of the structure.

Today, as a result of these restorations, the hânikâh section functions as the "Sâhib Atâ Foundation Museum", while the mosque remains open for worship, aiming to preserve and sustain the cultural heritage.