The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1924-12-10
magnificent rubbish heaped courtyar

: I magnificent rubbish heaped courtyard
Who were these master-builders Of
Islam? Early in the eleventh cen
fury the Seljuk Turks migrated west
ward through Bokhara to Bagdad, EN-
braced Mohammedanism anu within
40 years had founded an empire
stretching from Afghanistan to the
Mediterranean.
After only 20 years duration, their
empire WIS engulfed in the tidal wave
of Mongoian invasion.
During that brief span the splendid
sultans of Rum gathered at their
Anatolian court the flower of Persian
and Arabian genius architects,
poets, scholars, and mvstics alike
fleeing before the savage Mongol-
and fathered a brief renaissance Of
Moslem art
1t was during the reign of q single
sultan that the most beautiful of the
Seljuk mosques appeared. Aladdin of
the wonderful lamp may quite con-
ceivably be no other than this same
Ala-ud-din Kaikobad /, at whose COM
mand majestic piles spiang out of the
plain like those enchanted palaces Of
the Arabian nights.
The route from Sivas to Kaisariye
| lies over the mountains and across
125 miles of plain which yield many
glimpses of Seljuk remains inter-
mingled with Turkish peasant life
1.
placed at distances of days march
between, rise those crumbled masses
of masonry, the Seliuk khans. erected
by Ala-ud-din Kaikobad-a veritabe
chain of hotels under one royal man.
agement, intended to accommodate
travelling embassies, personsges of the
reigning house, and the suitan's own
caravans.
Greeks in Kaisariye.
Just as Sivas has long been an Ar
menian center, so Kaisariye has been
predominantly Greek ever since the
days when this region was known as
Cappadocia. Greek vineyards still
clothe the TANKS of Mt. Argaeus
and Greek donkey trains still trans |
port gum arabic across the mountains
to Kaisariye, where it is sorted and
retailed for the sizing of cotton fab
RIGS
AS shopkeeper, the Cappadocian
Greek so excels the Turk that the lat
ter, by boycott and terrorism, has
driven his rival from the bazaar.
More than any other Anatolian
town, Kaisariye breathes of an olden
distinction as a trade center and the
seat of kings. Under the shadow of
its Seljuk mosques and Seljuk castle
walls, the big bazaar huns with the
babel OF half "a dozen tongues.
Persian, Jewish and Syrian mer-
chants discuss prices and politics, as
from the backs of their kneeling
camel trains tumble bales of Kok-
hara rugs and Damascus silks. Small
boys fly about with glasses Of tea
to slake throats dry from
bargain arguments. Everywhere pOr-
tiers are shouting for right of way,
are crying praises of
their wares professional "touts" are
|
srs' ears, and squatting beggars are
yailing for aims.
Even the BARRIERS seated subject
holds the copper bowl Of suds under
lis own half-shaven' chin, so that the
'azor-wielder's hands may be left free
or copius gesticulation during his
'apid-fre monologue.
Indeed, next to an American stock
exchange, the bazaar Is the greatest
alkfest in the world.
And it is distinctly mans ta,kfest.
80 woman's voice is heard ana but
ew women are to be seen. these few,
llways in pairs. making their bargains
n undertones from behind their black
ellis and regaining the outer world
IS n~as possible.
Kaisariye's long succession of kings |
nd conquerJrs extends fur bncF of :
;sliuks and Romar:, into the mists of .
COO b. c., when the Utilities ruled +
Lying, us 1t does, on a
irect line between Boghaz Keui and a
)jerablus. the. eXcuvated strongholds
t the Httitte empire, Kaisariye's
lain, with its towering tumulf may
ne day yield further knowledge Of
hat early people whose priestesses
ere, perhaps, the Amazons of Greek h
sgend. ana whose rock cut inscrip-
ions still BATTLE the archaeologists. c
Unfortunately, however, excavation T.
4 Anatolia Is baked by the Turks /,
saIous suspicious. Asked for permits. !,
ion to dig for written Stones he
I once suspects the savant Of being 0
n the track of some fabulous hoard $
t buried gold. Hence Kaisariye's a
lrauli remain untouched II