Batı Resminde Kâhin Kadının Temsili Olarak Sibyl Betimleri

Abstract

The theme of the Sibyls, which has an important place in Western painting, is encountered in their many depictions in various fields. Sibyl is a general name used for female oracles who were thought to have prophesied directly by the inspiration of God. At first, only one Sibyl was mentioned, but they increased in the course of time. The depictions of a Sibyl occupying a significant part in Western paintings, and play an important role in various religious themes in Christian art, as well as in scenes related to mythological stories, including the figures of the female oracle in the pagan era. Because they were thought to have made various prophecies about Jesus, they were respected as prophets at the beginning of Christianity, and they were used frequently in Christian art, either alone or together with prophets. Consequently, we see these oracle women, who are also given great importance by Christians, in a wide range from walls to altars, and from books to canvas. This study, which first gives information about the identity of the Sibyls and the collection of the so-called Sibylline Books, then tries to examine and interpret iconographically the depictions of the Sibyls in different periods and fields, as considering mythological and religious scenes.