Seljuk States had not only been in compliance with
the Islamic civilisation, but also had significant contributions to this civilisation
through their own characters and tastes. Therefore, they had revealed their own artistic
views and opinions. They had built various architectural works such as mosques,
theological schools, mausoleums (domes), hospitals, caravan inns, castles, and bridges,
etc. in the countries ranging from the borders of China extending towards Istanbul
Straits, the coasts of the Mediterranean and Black Seas, the borders of Egypt, Yemen and
India that were under their domination. In these regions, they had developed the
architectural types that dated back to their ancient homelands and therefore, they had
presented new building types as a gift to the Islam world. These innovations had been
applied in the big mosques located in Iran, Turkestan and Iraq and Seljuk States had
provided a memorial sight and panorama to the mosques in the Islam world. As a model of
the Seljuk architecture, the mosques such as Isfahan Mescid-i Cuma, Gülpayegân Mosque,
Mescid-i Cuma in Kazvin and Mescid-i Cuma in Ardistan, etc. have survived so far.
Another building type was the theological schools
that were the places of religious education. The theological schools in Nisabur, Baghdad
and Tus are the first models of this new building type. The shape of the theological
schools had been determined in respect of architecture, and it has been understood that
central courtyard and four vaulted recesses had been used in the plan. In this building
type, there is one vaulted recess in every four sides of the courtyard, and the courtyard
is surrounded by the arched colonnades. Therefore, it has been observed that the plans of
the mosques and theological schools with four vaulted recesses were used in the regions
under the domination of Seljuk State.
As a result of the archaeological studies carried out recently, it has been found out that
the plan with four vaulted recesses was also used in the plans and caravan inns. One of
the new building types that were contributed by the Seljuk States to the Islam world was
the mausoleum that was called as "Kümbet" made of bricks that reminded of the
Turkish tents (large sumptuous tents) in respect of their shapes. These buildings can be
divided into three groups as the quadrilateral, multilateral and the round ones. There had
been various mausoleums built in the Islam world within the period of Seljuk States. The
principal model that has survived pertaining to this period is the mausoleum of Sultan
Sencer (died in 1157) located in the city of Merv that was considered as the masterpieces
of the world architecture that are limited in number. The new type thin cylindric minarets
are also the gift of the Turkish architecture presented to the Islam world.
Since the period of Kavurd (1048-1073) who was the
first ruler of Kirman Seljuk State, they had started the activities related with the
public works. The "minaret" that is one of the patrol towers constructed by him
is still protected and preserved today. There was a development in Kirman in respect of
urbanisation in the period of Seljuk State, and the cities extended beyond the borders
called as "şehristan". Then, the new quarters and centres of population were
established. The oldest mosque of the region of Kirman is the mosque titled as
"Mescid-i Melik" (Small Mosque of the Ruler) constructed by the Ruler Turan-shah
I that acquired fame with his name. Another work that is contemporary with that period is
the mausoleum that was famous with the name of "Hâce Atabey" constructed by
Tutor Bozkush. Some of the works constructed in the period of Seljuk State that are still
on foot today can be cited as follows: Mescid-i Bâzâr-ı şâh in Berdesir, Seljuk
minaret in Zerend, the Seljuk castle and public bath in the village of Nigar with a
distance of approximately 70 km. from the city of Kirmân. Furthermore, it has been stated
within the resources that the Seljuk States had had various activities of public works in
Kirman.
The models of the
Middle Asia were preferred in the figurative plastic art in the period o Seljuk State.
This decoration style that was developed on the status quo had been observed in the
mosques, palaces and even in the houses of the rich people. In the compositions of these
decorations, the stages of hunting and the stages from the life in palaces were depicted.
In the extractions carried out in Rey, some painted statues were found that born Turkish
characters of facies in the Seljuk palaces that were ruined. Since the century XI, the art
of carpet business had extended from the Central Asia towards the west through the Seljuk
States. However, there is not any works of the carpet business that have survived from the
period of the Great Seljuk State. Under the influence of the Seljuk State, there was a
great development that occurred in the silk industry in Baghdad and the oldest silken
fabric of today has pertained to this period.
Similarly, the first Islamic miniature schools had
been founded in Baghdad in the period of Seljuk State. This art that emerged as the
interpretation of the texts that were translated into Arabian language developed in the
short story books after a specific period. The art of miniature was developed by the
Uighur Turks that were the clerks of Seljuk sultans and emirs. In this period, the effects
of the Central Asian art and style of ceramics can be obviously observed in Iran. The art
of tile making was developed in three important centres particularly in Rey, Mosul and
Rakka, etc. in the period of Seljuk State. In the period of the Great Seljuk State, the
tiles were used in connection with architecture in decorations in the Turkish architecture
applied in Iran. The main great development has been observed in the Anatolian
architecture. Ceramic works were created as well as the tiles and centres of ceramics were
established. In these centres, numerous works of art had been created and new techniques
had been originated. In the period of the Great Seljuk State, the works of high quality
had been created with an extraordinary technique used in the metallic works. The centre of
the metallic art was the region of Khorasan. The goods made of metals were decorated with
the embossed designs that reflected the life in palace and the nature.
Since the eleventh century, the effect of Turks have
been observed in all the artistic innovations that influenced the Middle East countries
and that were considered as the joint property of the Islam world. This situation has also
been observed in the following periods.
The Turkey Seljuk State had almost decorated Anatolia
with various architectural works in the course of the period of their domination and some
of these works are still alive today. The Seljuk sultans had constructed mosques,
theological schools, mausoleums, caravan inns, castles and bridges. As a matter of fact,
Alaeddin Cami in Konya that was constructed by Sultan Mes'ud in the middle of the century
XII has survived until nowadays through some repairs and innovations. Sultan Alaeddin
Keykubad I had constructed the mosque called with his name in Nigde and Ulu Mosque in
Malatya. Huand Mosque and its complex of buildings in Kayseri were constructed by Alaeddin
Keykubad's wife, Mahperi Huand Hatun.
The first work of art constructed in the type of a
theological school by the Turkey Seljuk sultans is the schools called as Çifte Medrese in
Kayseri. This school was composed of the school of medicine (şifaiye) of Gıyâseddîn I.
Keyhusrev and the school of medicine pertaining to his sister, Gevher Nesibe. Sultan
Izzeddîn I. Keykavus had also constructed a theological school in Sivas. Seljuk statesmen
had also had some activities in order to develop and to provide the public services for
the country. As a result, the works constructed by the statesmen are as follows: Tas
Medrese in Aksehir, Sâhibiye Medresesi in Kayseri, İnce minareli Medrese in Konya that
were constructed by Sâhib Ata Fahreddîn Ali; a theological school in Isparta that was
constructed by the tutor Ertokuş; Karatay Medresesi in Konya that was constructed by
Celâl ed-Dîn Karatay; Gök Medrese in Sivas that was constructed by Muineddîn Pervâne;
and Cacabey Medresesi that was constructed by Cacaoğlu Nûreddîn. It has been understood
that Cacabey Medresesi in Kirsehir had been firstly built as an observatory in the
beginning, but it was transformed into a mosque in the course of time.
The works that most vigorously reflected the power,
the best operation and the high culture of the Turkey Seljuk State were the caravan inns
that were located over the trade routes. The caravan inns that are abundant in Anatolia
were constructed by the Seljuk sultans and viziers in the century XIII. In these caravan
inns that had been protected by a detachment of guards, the passengers could take meal
three times a day free of charge regardless of their state of wealth or poverty.
Similarly, the patients were treated and all the people had the equal treatment regardless
of their difference of religion, economical state, wealth or poverty in these places. It
has been determined that eight of the caravan inns located in Anatolia had been
constructed by the Seljuk sultans.
Although the mausoleums and domes in Anatolia were
constructed within modest considerations, it has been observed that they were in a state
of development in respect of their architecture. In the beginning, the vaults had been
constructed of bricks and stones, but then, they were just made of stone. The only vault
that had survived among the Seljuk vaults and domes pertaining to the century XII is the
vault and dome of Kilic Arslan II in Konya. A mausoleum that pertained to the Seljuk
sultans is the mausoleum of Keykavus I that is located in Sivas.The few models of these
types of works that have survived until nowadays can be cited as follows: the vault of
Mahperi Huand Hâtun, one of the Seljuk wifes in Kayseri, the vault of the statesman, the
Tutor, the mausoleum of Celâl ed-Dîn Karatay in Konya, and the family mausoleum of
Sâhib Ata Fahreddîn Ali again in Konya.
The carpet business extended from the Central Asia
towards the through the Seljuk Turks. As it can be understood from the pieces of works
that have survived from the period of Turkey Seljuk State (from the first half of the
century XIII), the carpet business had continuously developed and lay foundation to the
art and business of carpets in the following periods. Konya Seljuk carpets had a
magnificent richness in respect of their comfort and decorations. In respect of their
colours, generally dark blue and red are the colours that are of great significance. The
motives in the Seljuk carpets are composed of the geometrical shapes that are frequently
used such as octuple stars, the octagons with their points bent through hooks, etc.
Furthermore, there are fairly stylised plant and animal figures and shapes in these
carpets. The element that gave a characteristic quality to the carpets was the large Cufic
script decorations in the wide edges.
The art of tile making
had experienced a great development in the Anatolian Seljuk State in the century XIII, and
it had created a design world peculiar to itself. After the second half of the aforesaid
century, the domination of plant motives in the decoration of tiles was the indicator of
the naturalist style. The tile decoration had been used in the interior and exterior
decoration and architecture in Anatolia, and the examples to this style have been observed
in the schools of medicine, theological schools, mausoleums, vaults, and small mosques,
and therefore, this art had been developed. Konya that was the capital city of Turkey
Seljuk State had become the centre of tiles with various techniques applied and the entire
Seljuk period had shaped the art of tile making.
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