“Seljuq portal”: architectural decoration as a method of political rhetoric

Authors

Abstract

The article deals with the architectural composition of “Seljuk portal” — special mounting of the front of the building, constructed by Anatolian dynasty of Seljuk of Rum and its successors. This element was probably derived from Iran, but got the special features of Christian origin in Anatoly, especially the gable-vaulted bay with stalactites. The portal became the centre of facade compositions of Seljuk mosques and madrasah, designed from expensive materials, decorated with calligraphy, which often contains information about patron and builders of the structure. Initially unified Seljuk portals arranged caravanserais, made people think of government safe conduct and comfortable journey. Establishing in monumental forms the idea of official patronage resulted in transference of Seljuk portals to Muslim places of worship and turning them into part of propagandistic program, directed at spreading and strengthening the idea of strong Muslim State. Seljuk political rhetoric of the golden age of Sultanate of Konya (of Rum) was inherited by actual rulers of Mongolian domination times, which gives the evidence of its effectiveness. The fact of using “Seljuk portal” has also clarified the dating of Anatolian buildings. 

Keywords:

Seljuqs, Anatoly, architecture, portal compositions, political rhetoric, information systems

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Author Biography

Evgenii I. Kononenko, State Institute for Art Studies

PhD, the head of Department of Asian and African art, academic secretary

References

Литература

1. Наджм ад-Дин Дайа ар-Рази. Лестница в Небо: Наука для влюбленных. М.: Ансар, 2008. 392 с.

2. Стародуб Т. Х. Сокровища исламской архитектуры. М.: Белый город, 2004. 456 с.

3. Хмельницкий С. Г. Между Саманидами и монголами. Архитектура Средней Азии XI — начала XIII вв. Ч. I. Берлин-Рига: Gamajun, 1996. 336 с.

4. Sterlin H. Turkey from the Selcuks to the Ottomans. L.; N. Y.; Tokyo: Taschen, 1998. 238 p.

5. Wolper E. S. Understanding the public face of piety: philanthropy and architecture in late Seljuk Anatolia // Mesogeios. 2005. Vol. 25–26. Р. 311–336.

6. Саттарова Л. И. Арабская каллиграфия в портальном декоре: функциональный и художественный аспекты // Известия КГАСА. 2003. № 1. С. 25–28.

7. Pancaroğlu O. The Mosque-hospital complex in Divriği: A history of relations and transitions // Anadolu ve Cevresinde ortaçağ. Ankara, 2009. Vol. 3. Р. 169–198.

8. Брунов Н. И. Очерки по истории архитектуры: в 2 т. М.: ЗАО Центрполиграф, 2003. Т. 1. 398 с.

9. Wolper E. S. Cities and Saints. Sufism and the transformation of urban space in medieval Anatolia. Pennsylvania: Penn State University Press, 2003. 152 р.

10. Rogers M. Waqf and patronage in Seljuk Anatolia: the epigraphic evidence // Anatolian Studies. 1976. N 26. P. 69–103.

References

1. Nadzhm ad-Din Daia ar-Razi. Lestnitsa v Nebo: Nauka dlia vliublennykh. M.: Ansar, 2008. 392 p.

2. Starodub T. Kh. Sokrovishcha islamskoi arkhitektury. M.: Belyi gorod, 2004. 456 p.

3. Khmel'nitskii S. G. Mezhdu Samanidami i mongolami. Arkhitektura Srednei Azii XI — nachala XIII vv. Ch. I. Berlin-Riga: Gamajun, 1996. 336 s.

4. Sterlin H. Turkey from the Selcuks to the Ottomans. L.; N. Y.; Tokyo: Taschen, 1998. 238 p.

5. Wolper E. S. Understanding the public face of piety: philanthropy and architecture in late Seljuk Anatolia, Mesogeios. 2005. Vol. 25–26. p. 311–336.

6. Sattarova L. I. Arabskaia kalligrafiia v portal'nom dekore: funktsional'nyi i khudozhestvennyi aspekty, Izvestiia KGASA. 2003. № 1. p. 25–28.

7. Pancaroğlu O. The Mosque-hospital complex in Divriği: A history of relations and transitions, Anadolu ve Cevresinde ortaçağ. Ankara, 2009. Vol. 3. p. 169–198.

8. Brunov N. I. Ocherki po istorii arkhitektury: v 2 t. M.: ZAO Tsentrpoligraf, 2003. T. 1. 398 s.

9. Wolper E. S. Cities and Saints. Sufism and the transformation of urban space in medieval Anatolia. Pennsylvania: Penn State University Press, 2003. 152 p.

10. Rogers M. Waqf and patronage in Seljuk Anatolia: the epigraphic evidence, Anatolian Studies. 1976. N 26. P. 69–103.

Downloads

Published

2015-03-11

How to Cite

Kononenko, E. I. (2015). “Seljuq portal”: architectural decoration as a method of political rhetoric. Vestnik of Saint Petersburg University. Arts, 5(1), 134–144. Retrieved from https://artsjournal.spbu.ru/article/view/2319

Issue

Vol. 5 No. 1 (2015)

Section

Architecture

License

Articles of "Vestnik of Saint Petersburg University. Arts" are open access distributed under the terms of the License Agreement with Saint Petersburg State University, which permits to the authors unrestricted distribution and self-archiving free of charge.