Anatolian Civilizations and Historical Sites - TEDA

ANATOLIAN CIVILIZATIONS:10x19 antik kentler 8/1/11 10:52 AM Sayfa
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Göreme Open Air Museum. One of the churches located in
11 th and 12 th century paintings of scenes from the life of Christ, the
hospitality of Abraham and portraits of the saints and the patriarchs.
Below the museum, on the road leading to the town proper of
Göreme, is Tokal› Kilise (Buckle Church). This church consists of
four sections: an old church, a new, larger one, a chapel and a lower
church. The old church serves as the entranceway for the later one
and is lavishly decorated with scenes from the life of Christ. From
the 10 th century, these paintings are done on the surface of the vault
and the upper parts of the walls. The new church is rectangular in
plan and covered in a barrel vault divided into three sections by
supporting arches. The church contains scenes from the life of
Christ including his childhood, adulthood and the Passion. There are
also scenes from the life of Saint Basileios and portraits of other
saints. The building of this church spanned several centuries, from
the late-11 th century to the 13 th century.
Both the chapel and lower church were added to the complex after
the construction of the new church. Behind Tokal› Kilise, 300 m.
from the museum exit, is Meryem Ana Kilisesi (Church of the Virgin