Decoration properties of the sarcophagi registered in the inventory of Aksaray Museum

Stone has been used in architecture throughout history, and has been the main construction material of sarcophagi and tombstones, as well as architectural elements such as crown gates, minarets, mihrabs, minbars, iwans, gargoyles and window ledges. Sarcophagi were widely used in Anatolia after Islam, especially in order to immortalize notables during the Seljuk period. Use of sarcophagi decorated with the finest examples of stone processing decreased gradually during the Principalities and Ottoman Periods. Today, samples of those periods take place in cemeteries, tombs and museums.In this study, nine sarcophagi with ornaments invlved in the exhibition of Aksaray Museum were examined and art objects were explained according to their period and decorative features. It is seen that the art objects generally started at the end of the XIII century and included the first half of the XV century. Plant motifs were used predominantly in the ornaments. However, it was also used geometric figures, scripts with ornamental elements, plain scripts and decorations consisting of columns interconnected to each other and the ornaments reminiscent of outer frame of palmette. In addition, it was also determined the works including stalactite ornaments with architectural elements, and oil lamps and vases, the symbolic elements of daily use. Keywords: Aksaray Museum, stone decoration, sarcophagus