Eshab-ı Kehf Kulliye, Religious building complex in Afşin, Turkey
Eshab-ı Kehf Kulliye is a complex of multiple buildings on a hillside near a cave, including a mosque, church, inn for travelers, and defensive barracks. The structures were built at different times and by different rulers, which is visible in their varying styles and construction methods.
A Byzantine church was established here in 446, and later a Seljuk ruler added more buildings starting in 1215. The site passed through different hands and purposes over the following centuries.
Two religions coexist within the same walls here, each with its own spaces and architectural styles. Walking through the complex, you notice how Christian and Islamic traditions shaped different sections of the buildings.
The site sits on a hillside outside of town and is accessible by vehicle. Morning and late afternoon visits provide the best light for viewing and photographing the details of the buildings.
One of the gates from the Seljuk period has geometric patterns that cast shadows in the shapes of kneeling figures at certain times of day. This optical effect appears to be a deliberate artistic choice built into the design.
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