Cappadocia Soganli Valley and Seljuk History

Cappadocia Soganli Valley and Seljuk History,

Soganli Valley
Soganli lies in a valley 25 km. to the east of Derinkuyu and 65 km. to the southwest of Urgup. It is supposed to have been once called Sondos. But a popular story has it that this town was the last place taken during the Arab invasion. After Battal Gazi had taken many parts of the region he told his followers that he had left this place for the end. So after its capture, it was called Sonakaldi (left for the end); this name gradually changed during the centuries and became Soganli. In an interesting valley Soganli has approximately 150 churches of which many are filled with earth. Others have been turned intopidgeon lofts. Among those that can be visited Yilanli Kilise (Church with Snakes), Saki’ Kilise (Hidden church), Meryem Ana Kilisesi (Church of the Virgin Mary), Karanlik Kilise (Dark Church), Tokall Kilesi (the Church with the buckle) and Kubbeli Kilise (Domed Church) are the most noteworthy. Definitely worth a visit is Kubbeli Kilise with its three levels. This place is as interesting as Goreme itself.

Seljuk History And Works
By the foundation of the Anatolian Seljouk State, by the Turkish Principalities which began to enter Anatolia in the mids of the 11 th. Century stone carving besides ceramic thing, and carpetry, gained a great importance and the Seljouks ornamented every part of Anatolia with mosques, medreses, tombs and caravanserais. The masterpiece of the Anatolian Seljouks reached the summit of art in the 12th. Century. Konya Karatay Medreses, the Medreses with slim minaret, Sivas Gok Medreses, the double minaret medreses in Sivas again, and many other medreses, caravanserais and mosques are samples of them. Nigde Alaaddin Mosque Hudavend Hatun Tomb. Sungurbey Mosque, Kayseri Huand Hatun Mosque and Medreseh, Doner Kumbet (Turning Tower), Sultanhan (Inn) between Kayseri and Sivas, Karatay Han (Inn) in Karadayi Village between Tomarza and Bunyan, Sultanhan (Inn) between Aksaray and Konya, Apkarahan (Inn) and Alayhan (Inn) between Nevsehir and Aksaray Sanhan (Inn) located 7 km. eastern part of Avanos are the Seljouk masterpieces within the borders of Cappadocia. The Seljouk State became weaker in the 12 th. Century and at the end of the century, the rapidly developing Western Principalities such as Germiyan Ogullari, Aydin Ogullari, Mentese Ogullari, Karaman Ogullari and many other Ottoman Principalities founded the Ottoman Empire with the help of some Turkman Principalities. They also kept Anatolia as a Turkish territory and carried in the same art works.