Selime, Güzelyurt

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Selime is a municipality in the southwest of the Cappadocia region, district Güzelyurt the central Turkish province of Aksaray. It lies about 25 km east of the provincial capital of Aksaray and 12 km west of Güzelyurt at the northwest end of the Ihlara Valley.

Selime Kalesi

West of the main road that leads further into the Ihlara Valley, a cemetery with the Seljuk Türbe of Sultan Selim, who gave the village its name. On the opposite side of the street is a large and well-preserved monastery complex, which Selime Kalesi (Castle of Selime ) is called. It is carved in the typical for Cappadocia way into the soft tufa.

The rooms are grouped around two cloisters. Today, the system enters mostly through the second courtyard to the west. To the left is the kitchen, a room with a square base and pyramidal roof, where a flue is fitted. In the walls is next several niches a furnace. Two adjoining rooms probably served as pantries. The right of the farm is an area with surrounding gallery. It is organized by niches in two floors which open on the first floor, which is accessible via a staircase in the form of arcades. In the Cappadocian rock-cut architecture such galleries are a complex and therefore very rare design. Through a tunnel leads to another room with barrel vault. From the structured with blind arcades north side to reach a square room, on the ceiling, a monumental cross is carved. Through a door lintel this room was also accessible from the first courtyard.

To the east of this court, the monastery church, Kale Kilisesi is called. It has the form of a three-aisled basilica with a partially broken down porch. The existing paintings are blackened by fire and not in good condition. Are recognizable scenes from childhood and youth of Mary and the Christ of legend, including Annunciation, Birth, Adoration by the Magi, flight of Bethlehem and baptism in the Jordan. In the apse is a representation of the Ascension. On the west wall of the founders and various unidentifiable figures are depicted.

In the southeast of the courtyard another cave rooms connect, which are interpreted as living quarters of the monks. They contain profane reliefs as well as a replica of a coffered ceiling.