Where I am : Gray Icons Activities Cultural Tourism Other Historical Buildings Halifet Ghazi Large Tomb
There are contradicting views on the date of construction of the tomb. Although generally agreed to have been built in 1225, the tomb is argued to have been built earlier. According to the epigraph, the madrasah, which is completely ruined except for a column and remains of a stonework wall, adjacent to the western wall of the tomb, was built in 1210. Accordingly the tomb must have been built in or around the same date. The identity of the person who had the tomb built is a matter of controversy as well. It is generally accepted to have been built by Halifet Gazi, one of the ameers of the Danişmend. Halifet Gazi served the Seljuk after Danişment Beyliği was subdued and, in 1222, he was promoted to the governorship of Amasya. He was appointed to the governorship of Erzurum before he died. His body was brought back to Amasya following his death during a campaign in 1232 and buried here. The octagonal tomb is roofed with a pyramidal cone. It is built on a square footing and is two-storey. The entrance to the tomb, which is built of hewn stone, is through a flattened arch on the southern facade which is the only facade that is embellished with handcarvings. These geometrical engravings are framed with a border decorated with chevron pattern. The arch of the entrance to the tomb is also embellished with the same pattern. The door is framed by a muqarnas niche. The blank space above the arches and the outer edges are decorated with badges patterned with dovetails and stars. There is a twin arched window on the upper section of the southern facade. There are two more windows with flattened, round arches on the eastern and western facades of the octagonal structure. The window facing east has a muqarnas vault.