Akdeniz Sanat

Abstract

Alara is at the end of a convoluted road which was and 9 km. inwards from the shore, 38
km. west of Alanya. The region is located on the bank of the Alara Streamlet which is flowing in
a narrow and deep valley making convolutions. Alara Castle , which consists of precipices and a
steep hill by this streamlet, dominates the region. The settlement is concentrated on and around

the castel. The Alara Streamlet is flowing along the bottom of the castle and originates from the
high mountains whose two sides are covered with forest and it reaches the sea continuing through

the valley that streches to the sea. The historical topograohy of the settlement is determined by
the Alara Streamlet.
The region has a strategic importance on the roads of Anatolia from the North to the
South by its location. Although the castle which was used in the periods of Rome, Byzantine,

Cilicia, Armenian Kingdom, Sejukian and Ottoman became a small settlement in the course of

time, its main period was in the 13th century in medieval age after it was captured by the Turks.

Alara Castle maintained its name after it was captured by the Seljukians. The walls of

the catle which were quite in ruins after the conquest were repaired and the castle was simply

rebuilt. After the castle was conquered and the security of the castle and of the environment
were provided, Alara Caravanserai which looked like a small castle was built by Sultan Alâeddin
Keykubad I opposite the Alara Castle where the road was curving. Also, opposite the caravanserai
on the Alara Streamlet there are the signs of residuals of a devastated bridge whose location is
hardly seen today. There are other bridge, citadel baths and commercial building groups (Metal
Workshop), too.
There are also specific structural remains in Alara which have been excavated and defined
in recent years. The most remarkable of these is the structural remain in the baileys that constitute
the main subject of our article. The North and South wall of the remain is standing partially today
and as a result of the archaeological excavations, a niche was found out the basic level of which
was thought to be a mihrab in the center of the South wall.
This article is intended to make an evaluation of the structure near Alara Stream
considered to be a small mosque as a result of the excavations and information from the local
community. With the scope of this evaluation, some information will be given about the plan,
funciton and current situation of the structure.