It is 18 km to the north of the settlement Nevsehir, on the banks of the River Kizilirmak (Red River). The name of the city in the scythian/Khatti language is vanassa, meaning "Fort of the queen".
This name subsequently became venessa. River Kizilirmak/halys flowing through the city is the longest river in anatolia in the valley of which the lydian and Median wars were fought in the 6th century B.c. here was found a coffin with a bargeboard, having acroteria in the corners and five lion2s heads each on the sides, made of white marble measuring 2.20 m long and 70 cm high, presumably belonging to the Roman era.
The coffin is adorned with garlands all around and in the middle of these garlands there are the relief-carvings of medusa head. The city of Avanos is wellknown for its ceramic craftsmanship since the Khattis and Hittites.
The pottery made of the red earth in the basin of the river Kizilirmak carried the fame of Avanos to the world. Avanos today is of valuable service to Turkish tourism with its ceramics workshops where potteryware are manufactured as well as with its ceramic products.
The Alaaddin Mosque, Yer alti (underground) Mosque and Saruhan Caravanserai are the other important works of art in the area.
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