Eğri Minare

Eğri Minare is located in the city center of Aksaray province in Türkiye’s Central Anatolia Region, along Nevşehir Street. The structure is commonly known as Eğri Minare due to its tilt and as Kızıl Minare because it is constructed from red brick. Eğri Minare is one of the significant architectural heritage sites surviving from the Seljuk period.

History and Construction

Built in the 13th century, Eğri Minare was constructed during the reign of Sultan I. Gıyaseddin Keyhüsrev of the Anatolian Seljuks. At that time, Aksaray was one of the important centers of the Anatolian Seljuk State. The minaret represents a significant example of Seljuk architecture from its period.

Architectural Features

The minaret is constructed of red bricks bonded with Horasan mortar. It has a cylindrical body resting on a square base. The body is divided into two sections by a fine horizontal line. The lower section is decorated with zigzag motifs, while the upper section features blue and green ceramic mosaics. The minaret includes a balcony, and its total height is 30.6 meters. Inside, there are a total of 92 steps.

State of Tilt

Eğri Minare derives its name from its structural tilt. Three distinct tilts have been measured:

• From ground level: 2° 28' 14.16''
• From the top of the base on which the minaret stands: 3° 11' 18.08''
• The inclination of the base itself: 44' 48.59''

It is widely accepted that the tilt was intentionally introduced during construction by the master builder. Another theory suggests that the tilt may have resulted from ground settlement due to the historical position of the nearby Uluırmak River. However, investigations have determined that the minaret rests on solid ground and shows no signs of subsidence or soil-related damage.