Flower of Life and Its Reflections on Ottoman Mosque Architecture

Human beings have used various symbols in order to define their emotions, opinions or an object. Symbols, which are preferred to reflect different cultures and purposes in every period, constitute an important place in world art. The symbols used sometimes represent beliefs, sometimes power or elements attributed to sacredness. In this direction, states that have existed in the historical process have created symbols specific to themselves, as well as common symbols have been adopted for world art. The tree of life is undoubtedly one of the most common symbols in world art. Although there are different variations, it appears as a common ornament. A similar issue shows itself in motifs such as the lion, eagle and dragon, which are symbols of power, and these motifs may also vary from culture to culture in terms of processing. Apart from the symbols mentioned above, the "Flower of Life" is one of the symbols found in Asia, Africa and Europe, which cannot be changed in terms of its presentation, presentation and processing. Geometric fiction, which symbolises the universe and infinity, perfection and creation, is one of the common motifs of the world. The meaning of the "flower of life" motif, which is called with different names such as rosette, flower, rosebezek, star in Turkish-Islamic Art decoration, its emergence, the civilisations in which it is seen, and how it is reflected and processed in Ottoman architecture will be tried to be illuminated.

Journal

SELCUK UNIVERSITESI TURKIYAT ARASTIRMALARI DERGISI-SELCUK UNIVERSITY JOURNAL OF STUDIES IN TURCOLOGY

Year

2023

Issue

60

Pages

133-152

eISSN

2458-9071

DOI

10.21563/sutad.1405240

WoS UID

WOS:001143725000007