Byzantine period belt buckles at the Afyonkarahisar Archeology Museum

This study focuses on the examination of belt buckles from the Byzantine Empire period. The Byzantine Empire is a civilization that stands out with its historically rich culture, art and architecture. The importance of this civilization still fascinates researchers and history enthusiasts today. Byzantine belt buckles became an indispensable part of clothing and presented important examples reflecting the aesthetic understanding of the period. This thesis aims to reveal the role of these works in the historical, cultural and artistic context by systematically examining the belt buckles of the Byzantine Empire. In the first part of the study, the definition, importance and boundaries of the subject are mentioned, in the second part, Byzantine mining art is explained in detail, in the third part, the historical process of belt buckles is mentioned, in the fourth part, detailed descriptions and drawings of fifty-three belt buckles are made, and in the fifth part, belt buckles are evaluated. I hope this thesis will contribute to the understanding of the belt buckles of the Byzantine Empire and to introduce this important cultural heritage to a wider audience. I would like to thank my advisor Dr. Lecturer İlker Mete MİMİROĞLU, who contributed to the preparation of this thesis, and Lecturer from Selçuk University, who guided me with his support. Special thanks to Nejla ZENGİN, Afyonkarahisar Provincial Directorate of Culture and Tourism Specialist, who helped Ömür ESEN with the literary corrections of the text, Technician Önder NURTEKİN from Afyonkarahisar Museum Directorate, who drew the works, and Doctorate Özlem ELBÜSTAN, one of the Experts of Kayseri Museum Directorate, who re-evaluated the terminologies of archeology and art history. I thank you. I would also like to express my gratitude to Afyonkarahisar Museum Director Mevlüt ÜYÜMEZ, who contributed to the creation of this study. Keywords: Byzantine Empire, Archaeology, Belt Buckles, Architectural Ornament, Clothing Accessories