IHLARA VALLEY

IHLARA VALLEY

Ihlara valley is fourteen kilometers long and ranging from 100 to 150 meters high. Ihlara Valley stretches from Ihlara to Selime. Situated 40 kilometers from Aksaray, the canton that can be seen today was eroded by the Melendez River, which found its way through cracks in the basalt and andesite lava deposited by Mt. Hasandag.
Historically, the Melendez River was called ”Potamus Kapadukus” which means ” River Of Cappadocia”. This valley proved to be an ideal place of defense for monks to worship in seclusion, as well as provide a safe hideaway and place of defense for people during times  of invasion. There are numerous dwelling, churches, and graves built in to the valley walls, some of which are connected by tunnels and corridors.
The decorations in the churches date from the 6th to the 13th centuries. Churches in the region can be classified into two groups based upon the painting techniques used. In Ihlara Valley the wall painting techniques copied those in Egyptian and Syrian churches. A Byzantine type of painting is seen mostly in the vicinity of Belisirma.
The churches nearer to Ihlara display frescoes with oriental influence and those nearer Belisirma display Byzantine-style decorations. The best=preserved frescoes are found in the churches of Agacalti, Purenliseki, Kokar, Yilanli and Kirkdamatli. Although  very few Byzntine inscriptions in this area can still be read, the names of Seljuk Sultan Mesud II (1282-1305) and the Byzantine Emperor Ansronicos II are inscribed above a 13th century fresco in the church of St.George (Kirkdamatli). This is evidence of the tolerance of Seljuk rulers.