The application of a free panel design featuring the legendary Simurgh Bird with the Rumi motif in Ottoman tile art

This thesis focuses on the integration of the legendary Simurg bird, symbol of wisdom, rebirth and spiritual transformation, with the rumi motif, one of the basic elements of Ottoman tile art. Simurg, which is rooted in Iranian-Persian, Islamic and Turkish mythologies, carries a rich iconographic heritage that intersects with the symbolic and aesthetic qualities of the rumi motif, known for its curved structure derived from abstract animal forms. This study aims to reinterpret these two traditional elements from a contemporary perspective and to develop and implement a free-form tile panel design in this direction. A qualitative method was adopted in the research; iconographic analysis, literature review and visual documentation were included. In the applied part, a single tile panel design was realized using the stylistic characteristics of 16th century Ottoman tiles and traditional underglaze techniques. The compositional structure combines symbolic figurative elements with ornamental abstractions and is supported by traditional glaze and color palettes. The resulting panel design synthesizes traditional Islamic art with contemporary artistic expression. It shows that historical motifs can reinterpret universal themes through an innovative visual language. Furthermore, this research contributes to the discourse of revitalizing the heritage of mythological symbolism and ornamentation in the field of modern Turkish Tile arts.