Double Minaret Madrasah
What are the features of Double Minaret Madrasah?
Double Minaret Madrasah is a Seljuk era monument that has become a symbol of Erzurum. It is generally believed to have been built in the late 13th century. It is also called Hatuniye Madrasah because it is thought to have been built by Hundi Hatun, the daughter of Seljuk Sultan Alaaddin Keykubat, or Padişah Hatun from the Ilkhanid dynasty.
The madrasah, which is approximately 35x46 meters in size, is the most important example of the group of two-story, four-iwan, open-courtyard madrasahs. Its courtyard, measuring 26x10 meters, is surrounded by porticos on all four sides. Student and teacher rooms are lined up on both sides of the courtyard.
There are nineteen rooms on the ground floor and eighteen rooms on the first floor of the madrasah. The square space on the west side of the entrance was used as a mosque.
The dome tomb located in the south, which is connected to the main iwan and has a sarcophagus underneath it, is the largest contemporary tomb in Anatolia. The body of the twelve-sided tomb is covered with a dome and a hood from the outside and inside, respectively. The eaves are adorned with decorative strips and friezes.
The decorations on the crown door, especially on the Double Minaret Madrasah, are magnificent examples of the depth and aesthetic sense of Seljuk stone decoration. Plant elements are mainly used in the decorations. While palmette and rumi motifs are used the most, their harmony with each other is remarkable.