Malatya Arkeoloji ve Etnoğrafya Müzelerinde Bulunan Türk- İslam Dönemi Mezar Taşları

Abstract

Tombstones are at the top of the most damaged works in the development process of cities. These works either disappear over time or are fallen into ruins due to indifference. In this study; a total of 39 tombstones in the Malatya Archeology and Ethnography Museums were evaluated by documenting with regards to art history. The stones, chronologically introduced, are divided into two main groups in terms of form as square and rectangular sectioned. Decoration programs were reviewed in detail. During the introduction of the motifs, the iconographic development of the motif was primarily emphasized. These works, with their aesthetic appearances, involving the deceased’s identification, family, occupation, title, names, nicknames, causes of death, diseases, wishes from the Almighty, requests from the people, and significant information on beliefs, were reviewed individually and a general evaluation was conducted. The study states where the tombstones, whose place in Turkish-Islamic art was emphasized, were brought from to the museums. These works are crucial in terms of cultural and artistic diversity both in the period of their production and also by means of representing the regional belonging.