Kufic caligraphy in anatolian Seljuk architecture

This thesis titled Kûfîc Script in Anatolian Seljuk Architecture provides a detailed examination of inscriptions featuring Kûfîc script found on works from the period between 1071 and 1308. Kûfîc script was frequently used in mosques built during the Anatolian Seljuk era, appearing in many architectural elements. The use of Kûfîc script in these spaces demonstrates the importance placed on aesthetics in Islamic civilization. For this reason, Kûfîc script has been considered "Umm al-Khutut" (the mother of scripts) among the various styles of Islamic calligraphy. This study, which evaluates examples from architectural works during the 11th to 13th centuries when the Seljuks ruled Anatolia, provides detailed information in the introduction about the purpose and scope of the research, as well as the methods used and the main sources consulted. This research, which evaluates the use of Kûfîc script in Seljuk architecture from cultural, aesthetic, and symbolic perspectives, has been conducted through the analysis of historical documents and art history literature. Architectural structures such as mosques, madrasas, and tombs were examined using qualitative research methods, supported by a thorough literature review and fieldwork observations. The first chapter provides a brief history of Islamic calligraphy and its relationship with writing. In the second chapter, under the title "Kûfîc Script in Anatolian Seljuk Architecture," the types of script used in Anatolian Seljuk architecture, both before and after this period, are discussed in detail, with a particular focus on the Kûfîc script of the Seljuk era. The third chapter presents a catalog of the works found in Anatolian Seljuk architecture. In this section, the Arabic inscriptions are accompanied by their transcriptions and translations. The works were photographed in situ, and some were drawn in vector format. Detailed analysis and stylistic evaluations were carried out based on these data. In the fourth chapter, 15 new designs inspired by the examined works were presented. As part of this research, 18 cities and several of their districts were visited. Approximately 50 structures were studied in these locations. Additionally, an evaluation was made regarding the place and importance of these works in Turkish culture.