BIRMINGHAM BYZANTINE AND

OTTOMAN MONOGRAPHS

About the series:

Birmingham Byzantine and Ottoman Monographs is a new series of studies
devoted to all aspects of the history, culture and archaeology of the Byzantine
and Ottoman worlds of the East Mediterranean region from the fifth to the
twentieth century. It aims to provide a forum for the publication of work
carried out by scholars while at the Centre for Byzantine, Ottoman and Modem
Greek Studies at the University of Birmingham, or who are connected with the
Centre and its research programmes.

About the volume:

This volume combines a catalogue of the early churches of Cilicia and Isauria
(southern Asia Minor) with an analysis of their significance for the general
development of ecclesiastical architecture during the fourth to sixth centuries.
Although not wealthy, the region has a dense concentration of surviving
churches from the late fifth century, and particularly from the reign of the
[saurian emperor Zeno (474-91). In the absence of late fifth century
monuments in Constantinople, these churches in Cilicia and Isauria serve as
indicators for building patterns which were developing in the critical decades
before the great `Domed Basilicas' were built in Constantinople in the first half
of the sixth century. Cilician and Isaurian basilicas include transepts,
ambulatories and various subsidiary chambers and passages, and it is argued
that such modifications to the basic basilica] plan helped in the evolution of the
basilica towards the more centralized forms of the sixth century. The volume
includes discussion of major monuments such as Alahan and Meryemhk.

About the author:

Stephen Hill has conducted extensive fieldwork on the early Byzantine
monuments of Turkey. Most recently he has directed survey work on the
Byzantine fortifications of Amastris on the Black Sea, and he is currently
directing a rescue excavation of an early Byzantine site at ciftlik, near Sinop.
Stephen Hill has recently served as Honorary Secretary of the British Institute of
Archaeology at Ankara, and after many years in the Department of Classics and
Ancient History is now Associate Director of Open Studies at the University of
Warwick. He is an Associate Fellow of the Centre for Byzantine, Ottoman and
Modern Greek Studies at the University of Birmingham.
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 THE EARLY
BYZANTINE CHURCHES OF
CILICIA AND ISAURIA
 BIRMINGHAM BYZANTINE AND
OTTOMAN MONOGRAPHS
Volume 1

General Editors

Anthony Bryer
John Haldon

Centre for Byzantine, Ottoman and Modem Greek Studies

University of Birmingham
 THE EARLY
BYZANTINE CHURCHES OF
CILICIA AND ISAURIA

Stephen Hill

VARIORUM
1996
This edition © 1996 by Stephen Hill.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a

retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic,
mechanical, photocopied, recorded or otherwise without the prior permission of
the publisher.

Published by VARIORUM
Ashgate Publishing Limited
Gower House, Croft Road,
Aldershot, Hampshire GUI I 3 HR

Ashgate Publishing Limited

Old Post Road
Brookfield, Vermont 05036
USA

ISBN 0 86078 607 2

British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data

Hill, Stephen
The early Byzantine churches of Cilicia and Isauria
1. Basilicas - Cilicia - History 2. Basilicas - Byzantine Empire - History
1. Title
726.5'09495

Printed in Great Britain by Galliard (Printers) Ltd, Great Yarmouth

Birmingham Byzantine and Ottoman Monographs

Volume 1
 CONTENTS

List of contents vii

List of figures xiii
List of plates xv
Preface xxi

Chapter 1 Introduction 3
Chapter 2 Characteristics of Cilician and Isaurian basilicas 11
Building methods and materials 11
Courtyards and atria 14
The narthex 16
Nave and aisles 19
The main apse 21
Side-chambers 23
Sanctuaries 26
Eastern passages 28
Chapter 3 The Transept Basilicas 38
Chapter 4 The `Domed Basilicas' 45
Chapter 5 The dating of the Transept Basilicas
and the `Domed Basilicas' 51
Chapter 6 Conclusion 55

Map, Cilicia and Isauria 62

Catalogue
Akdam 64
Akoren 66
Akoren I, Church I 66
Akoren I, Church 2 67
Akoren II, Church 1 67
Akoren II, Church 2 68
Akyaka 68
Alahan 68
viii CONTENTS

Alahan, Cave Church 72

Alahan, West Church 73
Alahan, East Church 78
Alahan, Baptistery 82
Alakilise 83
Anavarza 85
Anavarza, Church of the Apostles 85
Anavarza, Southwest Church 88
Anavarza, Rock-Cut Church 90
Anemurium 91
Anemurium, Basilica 91
Anemurium, Basilica 11 16 92
Anemurium, Basilica 11110 C 92
Anemurium, Central Church, Basilica 111 13 C 93
Anemurium, Basilica 11114 C 94
Anemurium, Church A 11 1, Necropolis Church 94
Aya 96
Ay4, Temple-Church 97
Aya§, Basilica A 98
Aydmcik 99
Baka 99
Balabolu, Intra-Mural Churches 99
Balabolu, Necropolis Church 100
Batisandal 101
Bey Oren 103
Bigkici Kalesi 103
Bingiic 103
Bodrum 104
Bodrum, North Church, Town Church 104
Bodrum, South Church 105
Bog§ak Adasi 105
Cacik 106
Cafarh 106
Canbazh 106
Canbazh, Basilica 107
Canbazh, Small Church 110
Canbazh, Cemetery Church 111
Cennet Cehennem 111
Cennet Cehennem, Temple-Church 111
 CONTENTS ix

Cennet Cehennem, Chapel of St Mary 113

Civikh 115
Corycus 115
Corycus, Church A, `Cathedral' 116
Corycus, Church B 121
Corycus, Church C 122
Corycus, Church D 122
Corycus, Church E 123
Corycus, Church F 124
Corycus, Church G, Transept Church extra muros 124
Corycus, Church H, Tomb Church extra muros 131
Corycus, Church I, `Grof3e Armenische Kirche extra muros' 136
Corycus, Church J, Monastic Church 139
Corycus, Church K, Northwest Church inside Land Castle 142
Corycus, Church L 143
East of Corycus, Funerary Chapel 143
North of Corycus (Demircioren) 144
camlica 147
canh Bogazi 147
catikoren 147
cirga 148
149
Dag Pazari 149
Dag Pazari, Monastery 151
Dag Pazari, Basilica 151
Dag Pazari, `Domed Ambulatory Church' 155
Dag Pazan, Funerary Basilica extra muros 160
Deleli 162
Demirta§ 163
Devecili 163
Dikilita§ 163
Domuztepe 163
Dort Direkli 163
Elbeyli 164
Emirzeli 164
Emirzeli, Church 1 164
Emirzeli, Church 2 164
Emirzeli, Church 3 165
X CONTENTS

Erreli 165
Erdemli 165
Ergenupgi, Akkilise 166
Erzin 166
Evzendi 167
Ferhath 167
Gavurkinldigi 167
Gazipap 167
Church 10 C 168
Gazipasa, Church 11 C 169
G6reken Yayla 170
Gonnel 170
GUney Kalesi 170
Gilney Kalesi, Church I.15 170
GUney Kalesi, Basilica I.11 C 171
Guney Kalesi, Triconch I.7C 171
Guvercm Adasi 172
Hacibmerli 172
Halil Limani 172
Hasanahler 173
Hotami§alani 173
Imamli 174
Imsi Oren 175
I§ikkale 175
Kadirli, Ala Cami 176
Kadirli, Church of the Fullers 179
Kahn6ren 179
Kanhdivane 179
Kanlidivane, Church I 179
Kanlidivane. Church 2 182
Kanhdivane, Church 3 184
Kanhdivane, Church 4 187
Kanhdivane, Church 5 193
KarabocUlU -193
Karadedeli 194
Karakabakh 194
Karakilise 194
Karlik, Basilica 194
 CONTENTS xi

Ke§li 196
Ke§litiirkmenli 196
Kizilaliler 196
197
Mahras Dagi 197
Manastir (Mylae) 201
Manastir 201
Manaz 201
Mara Harabelen 202
Mazilik 203
Meryemlik. 208
Meryemlik, Cave Church 214
Meryemlik, Basilica of St Thecla 217
Meryemhk, `Cupola Church' 226
Meryemlik, North Church 234
Meryemhk, Church Northwest of `Cupola Church' 234
Mezaroluk 234
Misis, Basilica 235
Ovacik 237
Okiizlii, North Church 237
Okllzlti, South Church 240
Silifke, Temple-Church 240
Somek 241
Susanoglu, Town Church 241
Susanoglu, Cemetery church 243
Saha, Basilica 244
Takkadin 246
Tapureli, Church A 246
Tapureli, Church B 247
Tapureli, Church C 248
Tapureli, Church D 249
Tapureli, Church E 249
Uc Tepe, South Church 249
09 Tepe, North Church 250
Ura, Town Church 250
Ura, Cemetery Church 251
Ura, Monastery 252
Uzuncaburc, Temple-Church 252
xii CONTENTS

Uzuncaburg, Church near the Theatre

Uzuncaburc, Church of Stephanos
Uzuncaburc, Cemetery Church
Virankoy
Yanikhan, South Church
Yanikhan, North Church
Yemi§kum, Church I
Church 2
Yeniyurt Kale

Bibliography
Index
Key to figures
Figures
Plates
 LIST OF FIGURES

1. Alahan, Site plan including Cave Church and Baptistery (after Gough).
2. Alahan, West Church (after Gough).
3. Alahan, East Church (after Gough).
4. Alakilise (after Guyer).
5. Anavarza, Church of the Apostles (after Gough).
6. Anavarza, Southwest Church (after Gough).
7. Anavarza, Rock-Cut Church (after Gough).
8. Anemurium, Church A 11 1, Necropolis Church (after Russell).
9. Anemurium, Central Church, Basilica III 13 C (after Russell).
10. Anemurium, Church III 10 C (after Russell).
11. Ayaa, Temple-Church (after Gough).
12. Bodrum, North Church, Town Church.
13. Bodrum, South Church (after Bell).
14. Canbazli, Basilica (after Eyice).
15. Cennet Cehennem, Temple-Church (after Bell, Feld and Weber).
16. Cennet Cehennem, Chapel of St Mary (after Bell).
17. Corycus, Church A, `Cathedral' (after Herzfeld and Guyer).
18. Corycus, Church G, Transept Church extra muros (after Herzfeld and Guyer).
19. Corycus, Church H, Tomb Church extra muros (after Herzfeld and Guyer).
20. Corycus, Church I, `GroAe Armenische Kirche extra muros' (after Bell,
Herzfeld and Guyer, Hellenkemper).
21. Corycus, Church J, Monastic Church (after Herzfeld and Guyer).
22. Corycus, Church D (after Herzfeld and Guyer).
23. Corycus, Church K, Northwest Church inside Land Castle (after Herzfeld and
Guyer).
24. North of Corycus (Demircioren) (after Herzfeld and Guyer).
25. catikoren (after Gough, Feld).
26. cukurkqlik (after Liesenburg).
27. Dag Pazari, Basilica (after Gough notes).
28. Dag Pazari, `Domed Ambulatory Church' (after Gough).
29. Dag Pazan, Funerary Basilica extra muros (after Gough).
30. Deleli (after De Jerphanion and Jalabert).
31. Gazipa§a, Church 10 C (after Alfdldi-Rosenbaum).
xiv FIGURES

32. Guney Kalesi, Church I 15 (after Alfdldi-Rosenbaum).

33. Hasanahler (after Gough notes, Hild and Hellenkemper).
34. Imamli (after Bell).
35. Kadirli, Ala Cami (after Gough notes, Bayliss).
36. Kanlidivane, Church 1 (after Bell, Eyice).
37. Kanhdivane, Church 2 (after Bell notes, Eyice).
38. Kanhdivane, Church 3 (after Bell, Eyice).
39. Kanhdivane, Church 4 (after Bell, Eyice).
40. Karltk, Basilica (after Gough).
41. Mahras Dagi (after Gough).
42. Meryemhk, Cave Church (after Herzfeld and Guyer, Wilkinson).
43. Meryemhk, Basilica of St Thecla (after Herzfeld and Guyer).
44. Meryemhk, `Cupola Church' (after Herzfeld and Guyer).
45. Meryemhk, site plan (including North Church) (after Herzfeld and Guyer).
46.Okuzld, North Church (after Eyice, Gough notes).
47.Okiizlu, South Church (after Eyice, Gough notes).
48. Susanoglu, Town Church (after Keil and Wilhelm).
49. Susanoglu, Cemetery church (after Keil and Wilhelm).
50. aha, Basilica (after Bell).
51. Tapureli, Church A (after Keil and Wilhelm).
52. Tapureli, Church B (after Keil and Wilhelm).
53. Tapureli, Church C (after Keil and Wilhelm).
54. Ura, Town Church (after Bell).
55. Ura, Monastery (after Keil and Wilhelm).
56. Uzuncaburc, Temple-Church (after Keil and Wilhelm).
57. Uzuncaburc, Cemetery Church (after Keil and Wilhelm).
58. Uzuncaburc, Church of Stephanos (after Keil and Wilhelm).
59. Yanikhan, South Church (after Gough and Hill notes, Hild and
Hellenkemper).
60. Yanikhan, North Church (after Gough and Hill notes, Hild and
Hellenkemper).
61. Yemi§kum (after Bell).
62. Comparative plans. i) St. Polyeuktos, Constantinople.
ii) St. Irene, Constantinople.
iii) St. Sophia, Constantinople.
iv) Saints Sergius and Bacchus, Constantinople.
v) Kasr ibn Wardan, Syria.
vi) Dag Pazan, `Domed ambulatory Church'.
vii) Meryemlik, `Cupola Church'.
viii) Alahan, East Church.
 LIST OF PLATES

1. Alahan, general view from west (Gough).

2. Alahan, Cave Church, view from west (Gough).
3. Alahan, West Church, view from east before excavation (Gough).
4. Alahan, West Church, view from east showing primary church (Gough).
5. Alahan, West Church, view from east showing secondary church (Gough).
6. Alahan, East Church from north (Gough).
7. Alahan, East Church from southeast (Gough).
8. Alahan, East Church from west (Gough).
9. Alahan, East Church, interior looking west (Hill).
10. Alahan, East Church, interior looking east (Hill).
11. Alahan, East Church, interior of tower looking east (Gough).
12. Alahan, East Church, east side of tower (Gough).
13. Alahan, Baptistery, interior from northeast (Hill).
14. Alahan, Baptistery, exterior from southwest (Gough).
15. Alahan, East Church, north end of narthex (Gough).
16. Alahan, East Church, capital with eagles (Gough).
17. Aya., Temple-Church, apse (Gough).
18. Anavarza, Rock-Cut Church from southwest (1905, Bell C193).
19. Batisandal from west (Hill).
20. Batisandal, sockets at mouth of apse (Hill).
21. Batisandal, east facade (Hill).
22. Bodrum, North Church, exterior of apse (ca 1925).
23. Bodrum, South Church, exterior of apse (ca 1925).
24. Canbazli, Basilica from west (Hill).
25. Canbazli, Basilica from south (Hill).
26. Canbazli, Basilica, south colonnade (ca 1925).
27. Canbazli, Basilica, gallery (ca 1925).
28. Cennet Cehennem, Temple-Church, apse from south (Hill).
29. Cennet Cehennem, Temple-Church, apse from west (Hill).
30. Cennet Cehennem, Temple-Church, inner face of north wall (Hill).
31. Cennet Cehennem, Chapel of St Mary from south (Hill).
xvi PLATES

32. Cennet Cehennem, Chapel of St Mary, domical vault in southern

side-chamber (Hill).
33. Corycus, Church A, `Cathedral', apse from west (Hill).
34. Corycus, Church G, Transept Church extra muros, south facade (1905, Bell
D4a-b).
35. Corycus, Church G, Transept Church extra muros, east facade (Hill).
36. Corycus, Church G, Transept Church extra muros, interior looking east (Hill).
37. Corycus, Church G, Transept Church extra muros, base of south pier of
triumphal arch (Hill).
38. Corycus, Church H, Tomb Church extra muros, south facade from southeast
(ca 1925).
39. Corycus, Church H, Tomb Church extra muros, inner face of south wall
(ca 1925).
40. Corycus, Church H, Tomb Church extra muros, interior looking east
(ca 1925).
41. Corycus, Church H, Tomb Church extra muros, interior looking northwest
(Hill).
42. Corycus, Church H, Tomb Church extra muros, atrium and narthex.from
southeast (Hill).
43. Corycus, Church H, Tomb Church extra muros, pier capital at northeast
comer of nucleus (Hill).
44. Corycus, Church H, Tomb Church extra muros from northeast
(1905, Bell D16)
45. Corycus, Church B, apse from west (Hill).
46. Corycus, Church I, `Grol3e Armenische Kirche extra muros' from west (Hill).
47. Corycus, Church I, `Grol3e Armenische Kirche extra muros' from south (Hill).
48. Corycus, Church I, `Grol3e Armenische Kirche extra muros' from east (Hill).
49. Corycus, Church J, Monastic Church, general view from southwest (Hill).
50. Corycus, Church J, Monastic Church, west facade of court (1905, Bell D28).
51. Corycus, Church J, Monastic Church from southeast (Hill).
52. Corycus, Church K, Northwest Church inside Land Castle from southeast
(Hill).
53. East of Corycus, Funerary Chapel from west (Hill).
54. East of Corycus, Funerary Chapel, apse and hypogaeum from south (Hill).
55. North of Corycus (Demircioren), interior looking northwest (Hill).
56. North of Corycus (Demircioren), east end from southwest (Hill).
57. North of Corycus (Demircioren), east facade (Hill).
58. North of Corycus (Demircioren), southeastern chambers from west (Hill).
59. North of Corycus (Demircioren), capital (Hill).
60. catikoren from south (Gough).
61. Catikoren, interior looking west (Gough).
62. Dag Pazari, Basilica, narthex from south (Ballance).
 PLATES xvii

63. Dag Pazan, Basilica, eastern passage from southwest (Ballance).

64. Dag Pazan, `Domed Ambulatory Church' from southeast (1890, Headlam).
65. Dag Pazan, `Domed Ambulatory Church', east facade (Hill).
66. Dag Pazan, `Domed Ambulatory Church', east end from south (Ballance).
67. Dag Pazari, `Domed Ambulatory Church', interior from west (Gough).
68. Dag Pazan, `Domed Ambulatory Church', east end of south aisle (Ballance).
69. Dag Pazari, `Domed Ambulatory Church', pier capital on north side of apse
(Hill).
70. Dag Pazan, `Domed Ambulatory Church', northwest corner of nucleus
(Ballance).
71. Dag Pazan, Funerary Basilica extra muros from south (Gough).
72. Dag Pazan, Funerary Basilica extra muros, apse from northwest (Gough).
73. Dag Pazari, Funerary Basilica extra muros, apse and chancel from northwest
showing chancel screen and ambo (Gough).
74. Dag Pazan, Funerary Basilica extra muros, reconstruction of chancel
(Gough).
75. Hasanahler, interior from west (Gough).
76. Hasanahler, south arcade (Gough).
77. Imamli from west (Bell D58).
78. Imamli from south (1905, Bell D57).
79. Kadirli, Ala Cami from south (1905, Bell C 144).
80. Kadirli, Ala Cami from southwest (ca 1925).
81. Kadirli, Ala Cami from southeast (1905, Bell C145).
82. Kanhdivane, Church 1, west facade (1905, Bell C236).
83. Kanlidivane. Church 1, chancel and apse from west (Hill).
84. Kanhdivane. Church 1, east facade and doorway in wall linking
Churches I and 2 (Hill).
85. Kanhdivane. Church 2, apse from west (Hill).
86. Kanlidivane. Church 2 from south (1905, Bell C248).
87. Kanlidivane, Church 3, south end of narthex (Hill).
88. Kanhdivane, Church 3 from southwest (1905, Bell C245).
89. Kanlidivane, Church 3, apse from southwest (Hill).
90. Kanhdivane, Church 3, east facade (Hill).
91. Kanhdivane, Church 4 from west (Hill).
92. Kanhdivane, Church 4 from northeast.
93. Kanlidivane, Church 4, chancel and apse from west (Hill).
94. Karakilise from southeast showing early Byzantine apse and
Armenian church (Gough).
95. Mahras Dagi, church from west (Gough).
xviii PLATES

96. Mahras Dagi, apse from south west (Gough).

97. Manaz from west (Langlois 1861, plate 22).
98. Meryemhk, Basilica of St Thecla, apse from west (ca 1925).
99. Meryemlik, `Cupola Church', font (Hill).
100.Oktizlu, North Church from west (Hill).
101. Okuzlii, North Church from south (Hill).
102. Okuzlu, North Church, northern pier of triumphal arch (Hill).
103. Okuzlii, North Church, chancel and apse from northwest (Hill).
104. Okuzlii, North Church, northern side-chamber (Hill).
105. Oktizlii, South Church, apse from west (Hill).
106. Saha, Basilica from west (1905, Bell C215).
107. 5aha, Basilica, west end from north (1905, Bell C215).
108. Silifke, Temple-Church from east (Langlois 1861).
109. Tapureli, Church C from west (Gough).
110. Uc Tepe, South Church from west (Hill).
111. Oq Tepe, North Church, north aisle looking west (Hill).
112. Ura, Town Church from west (Hill).
113. Ura, Monastery from west (Gough)
114. Uzuncaburc, Temple-Church from north (1905, Bell D66).
115. Uzuncaburc, Temple-Church, interior looking east (Hill).
116. Uzuncaburc, Cemetery Church, general view from west (Hill).
117. Uzuncaburc, Cemetery Church, arcosolium from east (ca 1925).
118. Yanikhan, South Church, general view from west (Hill).
119. Yanikhan, South Church, column and capital in narthex (Hill).
120. Yamkhan, South Church, apse from northwest (Hill).
121. Yamkhan, South Church, northern subsidiary apse (Hill).
122. Yanikhan, South Church, eastern chamber showing fragment of dome (Hill).
123. Yamkhan, South Church, arcosolium in eastern chamber (Hill).
124. Yanikhan, North Church, interior from west (Hill).
125. Yanikhan, North Church, exterior from southeast (Hill).
126. Yanikhan, North Church, interior looking northeast (Hill).
127. Yemi§kum from west (1905, Bell C257).