The decorated Ottoman ravestones from Manisa Gordes

This concerns, "The Decorated Ottoman Gravestones from Manisa Gördes". Among the cemeteries of Gördes Ağalar, Büyük, Garipler, Hüseyni Baba Cemeteries and municipality's five gravestones were observed and included in the catalogue. The dates of the gravestones are between 18.th-20.th centuries and 78 samples of 343 are from 18.th. century, 195 are from 19.th. century, 32 are from 19. are from 20.th. century. The dates of 40 samples are unknown but maybe from 18.th.-19.th. centuries. Seven of the gravestones were made of stone and the others were of marble. The lenghts of the stones are between 190 cm.-31 cm., their widths are between 54 cm.-15 cm., their thicknesses are between 38 cm.-3 cm. Most of the samples are in rectangular and shapes and some are rectangular- prizmal. 54 of them have Foot gravestones. 87 head gravestones have large wadded turban (kavuk), turban ( sank), fez (fes), cap (külah) and kerchief. All of the gravestones have inscriptions. 25 of them are without inscriptions. Inscriptions on 301 samples were laid diagonal, and 17 of them were laid in a linear system, 300 of head ve foot gravesones are in good condition and 52 of them are on the earth. 49 samples are broken. 85 of 343 gravestones are men's and 258 are of women's. While scarping was used for making gravestones are scarping, and painting were used as the main decoration tecnique is seen on foot stone with the painting technique, inscriptions of stones were coloured. Most of the inscriptions and decorations are relieved. Decoration subjects seen on gravestones are phytomorphic, geometric, objective and calligraphic. Most of the floral decorations are naturalistic. The gravestones with architectural compositions are on the facades. Acanthus, cypress, flowers, vases, fruit dishes and other floral compositions where used together. Architectural composition of the mosques, tombs and houses are datedbetween 1709-1877. On the ten of the gravestones only crescent and small part of the mosque dome were reflected. 19 samples include stone makers' marks. Three of them are from Hüseyni Baba, six of them are from Garipler, ten of them are in Büyük Mezarlık. We believe that stones without inscriptions remind us. We didn't see this signs other regions so this signs may be characteristic of Gördes. These marked as which we believe that characteristic of Gördes are very important.