The analysis of religious images in Trabzon through church examples with peirce's semiotics and pragmatism approach

This study aims to analyze the symbolic world of frescoes, mosaics, and architectural ornaments in Byzantine-era religious structures in Trabzon through the lens of Charles Sanders Peirce's semiotics and pragmatism approaches. The research evaluates the aesthetic, theological, and cultural functions of religious images by examining their iconic, indexical, and symbolic dimensions. It also explores the transformations these structures underwent during their conversion into mosques in the Ottoman period, focusing on the covering or reinterpretation of frescoes and other visual elements. Furthermore, the study discusses the impact of religious images on tourism, cultural heritage preservation, and collective memory in the modern era. By highlighting the spiritual effects of religious symbols on individuals and their role in shaping the cultural identity of societies, the research reveals how these images have been recontextualized across different historical settings. The semiotic analysis enables the deconstruc tion of these symbols' multilayered meanings, while the pragmatism approach sheds light on their practical effects on individuals and communities. Key Words : Trabzon, Byzantine Churches, Religious İmagery, Semiotics, Cultural Heritage..