In the Neolithic period, between 7000 and 6000 BC, the earliest traces of Anatolian civilization can be seen in Çatalhöyük near Konya, where documents referring to Mount Hasan—and thus to Aksaray—have been found. Among these findings is an engraving depicting the eruption of Mount Hasan. The Aksaray area was inhabited during the Neolithic era. While it is not certain whether the region was inhabited during the Chalcolithic and Early Iron Ages, pottery from these periods has been discovered in surrounding villages such as Böget and Koçaş.
Between 3000 and 2000 BC, the Hatti people lived in Anatolia. Assyrian merchants traded in the area during this period. Our knowledge of Aksaray’s state during the Early and Middle Bronze Ages comes from excavations at the Acemhöyük archaeological site and from ancient artifacts acquired by the local museum directorate.
Toward the end of the Assyrian Trading Colonies period, around 1700 BC, a people of Indo-European origin migrated from the Caucasus, established small city-states, and formed a militarized kingdom in Anatolia—the Old Hittite State. While no Hittite artifacts have been found in Aksaray itself, the city is listed among the conquered lands in historical records.
Hittite dominance in Central Anatolia continued until the late 13th century BC. In the 2nd century BC, the region came under threat from the Sea Peoples, powerful groups migrating from the west (Thrace). The easily carved tuff layers—formed by compressed volcanic ash—led to the construction of numerous underground cities and cliffside settlements. From the late 7th century onward, the Muslim Arab campaigns toward Istanbul through Anatolia prompted many Christians to take refuge in the region, leading to the formation of settlements such as Ihlara, Gelveri, and Göreme.
Aksaray was captured by the Seljuks in 1142 and remained under the control of the Ilkhanids, Danishmends, and Karamanids until its incorporation into the Ottoman Empire around 1470. Following its conquest by İshak Pasha, and by order of Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror, part of its population was relocated to Istanbul. Throughout history, Aksaray came under the rule of the Hittites, Persians, the Hellenistic Kingdom of Alexander the Great, Rome, Byzantium, the Seljuks, and the Ottomans. Until the Republican era, Aksaray was a sub-province (sanjak) of Konya. It became a province in 1920, was downgraded to a district under Niğde in 1933, and regained its provincial status on June 15, 1989.
The earliest known name of Aksaray is thought to be “Nenessa (Nenossos),” as recorded in Old Hittite texts of King Hattusili I. In the 1st millennium BC, during the reign of King Kiakki, the city was referred to as Şinakhatum or Şinukhtu. In the Hellenistic period, Aksaray became part of the Cappadocian Kingdom, and its name, “Garsaura,” was changed to “Archelais” in honor of King Archelaus. During the Seljuk era, Sultan Kilij Arslan II renamed the city Aksaray and made it the second capital. Because no “wicked” people were allowed to reside there, it became known as “Şehr-i Süleha,” meaning “City of the Righteous.”
With a history reaching back to the 8th millennium BC, Aksaray has never lost its importance thanks to its rich cultural heritage, natural beauty, and status as a commercial hub. As the gateway to Cappadocia, it offers visitors unique travel experiences with its cultural assets and natural attractions. Located in Central Anatolia at the intersection of major east–west and north–south routes, Aksaray was a key center along the historical Silk Road. Today, with destinations such as Güzelyurt, the Ihlara Valley, Sultan Han, the Leaning Minaret, the Hasan Mountain winter sports center, and the Ziga Thermal Springs, Aksaray remains a vibrant tourism destination in the heart of Anatolia.
Origin of the Name “Aksaray”
Like every city in history, Aksaray’s name has various legends and historical accounts associated with it. The earliest known reference is believed to be “Nenessa (Nenossos),” appearing in Old Hittite texts from the reign of King Hattusili I. In 718 BC, the Neo-Assyrian King Sargon II launched the Tabal campaign against King Kiakki of Şinukhtu—located near present-day Aksaray—due to his refusal to pay tribute and his alliance with Midas, King of the Phrygians, and Pisiris, King of Carchemish. Following the campaign, Kiakki’s rule ended, and Şinukhtu came under the control of Kurti of Atuna. A Hittite hieroglyphic stele found in the center of Aksaray supports the identification of the city with Şinukhtu during the Late Hittite period.
When the Persians occupied the region, they gave it the name “Cappadocia,” meaning “Land of Beautiful Horses.” Known as Garsaura in antiquity, the city was renamed “Colonia Archelais” in 42 BC by King Archelaus of Cappadocia. In the Byzantine era, the name evolved into “Taxara.” Early Seljuk chronicles use the names “Aksera” and “Aksara.” Because the city produced many prominent religious scholars and saints, it became known as “Şehr-i Süleha,” meaning “City of the Righteous.” In his Seyahatname, the famous traveler Evliya Çelebi referred to the city as “Piga Helena.”
One legend recounts that during the Crusades, Sultan Kilij Arslan II decided to establish a military base outside the Seljuk capital of Konya and chose present-day Aksaray. He fortified the city with strong walls and adorned it with public buildings such as madrasas, mosques, hospitals, and bazaars. After every victorious campaign, he would return to Aksaray and begin the celebrations there, calling the city “Dar-üs-Zafer” (“Abode of Victory”). Loving the city so much, he decreed that no ill-intentioned person could enter it, under penalty of death. According to Evliya Çelebi, two bronze lion statues were placed on either side of the palace gates to guard the city. If a malicious person entered, the lions would breathe fire and destroy them. This is why the city became known as “Şehr-i Süleha”—the City of the Righteous, the Abode of the Virtuous.
Source: Governorship of Aksaray