Decorative elements in the mosques of the Ottoman Villages in Western Anatolia from the 12th AH / 18th AD till the Beginning of the 14th AH / 20th AD Century (Archaeological and Artistic Study)

Abstract

The Ottoman mosques located in the small villages of western Anatolia provinces such as Afyon, Aydın and Denizli were characterized by some unique artistic features that distinguish them from other mosques in major cities in the same provinces, whether in terms of the used artistic style or decorative elements. The used artistic style 's known as a pen or pen Kalem işi, which appeared and carried out in abundance in several places in these villages mosques, especially on the walls that were covered with plaster, and on mihrabs, pulpits, chairs of preachers, and mahafils. As for the decorative elements that carried out in these mosques were varied between floral decorations like lale, karanfil, branches of mersin trees and Tube tree. The writing texts that played an important role in the decoration of villages mosques during this period, as they appeared in abundance executed above the entrances and mihrabs, as well as on the interior surfaces of the walls in these mosques, and these writings were executed in both the Arabic and Turkish Ottoman calligraphy. Its content varied between Qur’anic texts, the Muthanna inscriptions, structural texts, the names of the Ottoman sultans, the names of the great Ottoman mosques. Geometric shapes were carried out in these mosques such as the şarkifelek motif, and the various architectural drawings that represent the Grand Mosque, the Holy Kaaba, and other decorations that represent vertical sectors of some of the great Ottoman mosques. We add to this some drawings that are predominantly religious, such as drawings representing the Day of Judgment and the Mahshar, such as the sirat, the scale, heaven, hell, and the banner of praise. And ornaments representing drawings of various Sufi tools such as tabar, kashkool, turban, flags, hanging panels, and various other drawings that had their own symbolism, such as shapes representing prayer carpets and ship shapes.

Keywords

• decoration; mosque; villages; western anatolia