Yeşim Ejderha Kılıcı:Timur İmparatorluğu'nda güc ve meşruiyet temsilleri

During the fifteenth century, the Timurid Empire would establish a distinct artistic idiom—disseminated beyond the empire's realm through the movement of objects, artists and ideas—that would solidify the empire's place as one not only of military and political dominance, but also of cultural superiority. A group of jade dragon swords and sword-parts believed to be created from the royal workshop of Ulugh Beg (r. 1447–49) reveal various elements of the political, cultural and artistic developments that occurred during this period that would help shape what would become the Timurid aesthetic. Through an investigation centered on this group of objects, this study particularly aims to shed light on how the Timurids were able to utilize their imperial artistic production in communicating sovereignty and legitimacy. The research will address the nature of Islamic arms and armor, the history of jade and the dragon motif in Islamic artistic production, and the manifestations of the Timurid legacy as seen on and through these objects. Along with addressing the later adoption of particular artistic elements, this study further aims to understand the empire's legacy through an examination of the afterlife of Timurid objects as they eventually moved into the treasuries of the Safavid, Ottoman and Mughal Empires. Keywords: Timurid art, Islamic arms and armor, jade, dragon, Iran, Central Asia, China, Ulugh Beg, cross-cultural interaction, sovereignty, legitimacy.