Hoca Mesud bin Abdullah

Hoca Mesud bin Abdullah was a wealthy merchant from Cappadocia who founded the caravanserai “Agzikaharan” near the Aksaray, in the village of Ağzikara. The caravanserai bears the same name as the village where it is situated, and is alternatively known as Hoca Mesud Kervansaray, after its founder. The two inscriptions tell us that its construction was commenced in 1231 by a wealthy merchant named Hoca Mesud bin Abdullah and completed in 1239. The hall was built during the reign of Anatolian Seljuk sultan Alaaddin Keykubat I (1220-1237) and the courtyard during the reign of his son Gıyaseddin Keyhusrev II (1237-1246).

Trade across Turkey in mediaeval Seljuk times was dependent on camel trains (kervan, anglicized as caravan), which rested, where possible, in inns known as kervansaray, literally “caravan palaces”. These buildings provided accommodation for the merchants and stabling for their animals. All merchants of whatever nationality were provided with food and beverages free of charge for three days. Their shoes were repaired and new shoes were given to the poor. Treatment was available for the ill and animals were cared for and shoed if necessary. Each kervansaray employed a physician, imam, inn keeper, superintendent of provisions, veterinary surgeon, messenger, blacksmith and cook to provide these services.