Multi-Dimensional Functions of Ottoman Poetry Literary Representations on Architectural Structures: Chronograms, Epigraphs and Inscriptions (original) (raw)

2007, Turkish Journal of Islamic Studies

To date, Ottoman poetry has been known generally as a literary corpus and assessed with aestetic and literary criteria within its own limits. However, studies carried out over the last decade show that it has multifunctional features that relate to the other arts with which it has been placed. Ottoman poetry was one of the most powerful literary media in sixteenth century-Istanbul and formed a mutual relationship with other arts, in particular with architec-Ottoman poetry has been generally recognized as a literary corpus and assessed with aestetic and literary criteria within its own limits. However, according to recent studies it has multifunctional features that relate to many arts. Ottoman poetry increased its own function by serving other arts and fields to the same extent that the political and economic success affected artistic inclinations during the sixteenth century. In particular, literary texts that were inscribed on architectural monuments, artistic works in themselves, both increased the aesthetic features of the edifice and made contributions to the field of history and art history by adding literary, artistic, historical and biographical richness and value. This is the multifunctional aspect of Ottoman poetry. Chronograms, epigraphs and inscriptions, which are the intersections of poetry and architecture, are essential examples of this multifuncti-onal feature. This study aims to examine the multidimensional functions of poetry as reflected in the inscriptions, epigraphs and chrono-grams that have been engraved on architectural monuments, such as mosques, fountains, hospitals, baths, tombs, shrines and gravestones. Since this study focuses only on the 16 th century, it will make contribution to the few number of works that have been written in this field, in which literature meets architecture, which to date have been mainly concerned with later eras, like the 17 th , 18 th and 19 th centuries.