Art-Sanat (Jul 2023)
A Underglazed Monogram from the Palaiologos Dynasty in İzmir Kadifekale (Smyrna Acropolis)
Abstract
Monograms, which are symbols formed by the combination of a series of letters indicating a title or prayer, have gained an important place in Byzantine symbolism since the early Christian world. In small-sized Byzantine glazed ceramics such as bowls and plates, monograms are usually seen on the tondo of the ceramics. In these monograms, the names of saints such as Mikhail, Demetrios, Prodromos, Andronikos, and Georgios or dynastic names such as Palaiologos (ΠΑΛΑΙΟΛΟΓΟC) were read intensively. Palaiologos monogram, consisting of four letters, Π and A adjacent, Λ and Γ side by side, is one of the monograms created by combining two or more letters side by side. This monogram is also seen intensely in ceramics. Palaiologos monogram ceramics found in the centers on the Black Sea coast and Constantinople are rarely seen on the Aegean coasts. The Izmir Kadifekale Palaiologos monogamous sgraffito sample is important in that it is a rare specimen (single specimen?) found on the Aegean coasts. In this article, the place of the İzmir Kadifekale sample among other monogrammed samples has been tried to be determined by examining its style features. Moreover, the functions of Palaiologos monogram sgraffito ceramics are discussed in the light of İzmir Kadifekale’s example. In modern literature, a point of view has emerged that monogrammed vessels are used mainly for liturgical purposes, regardless of their content. However, while the names of the saints already fulfil this task, it should be considered that the Palaiologos monogram, which encodes a dynasty name, has a different function than the religious one. Considering the examples in the contemporary West, it is suggested that this monogram may be a part of a policy of developing a language of power that offers political unity and trust.
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