ICONOGRAPHIC APPROACH TO THE TOMB OF HUDAVEND HATUN AT NIGDE

Ilkhanid ruler Abaka Khan ordered to kill Anatolian Seljuk Sultan Rükneddin Kılıç Aslan IV, and afterwards the Sultan’s daughter Hudavend Hatun was taken and married to this ruler’s son in the year 1276. This study concentrates on the tomb of Hudavend Hatun which was made for herself in the town of Nigde on 1312 when she was alive. As the daughter in law of Ilhanid ruler Abaka Khan, Hudavend Hatun later returned to her homeland after her husband Argun Khan’s death and witnessed all the events which led Anatolian Seljuks into devastation. The tomb was made during the years leading to the collapse of the Anatolian Seljuk Empire, but its octagonal prism body, pyramidal conical roof, higher basement, architectural structure and decorations made this building one of the unprecedented examples of the Turkish Tomb architecture. This tomb was taken as a model for the tomb of Sungur Bey at Nigde which was built later without any decorations. But the tomb of Hudavend Hatun has distinguished images and symbols with relieved figures of differing contents and meanings. For the first time we see human facial masks replaced between the winding branches and on the stems of plants. The tomb built for herself highlighted with the number eight which was related to heaven (paradise) in almost every culture. The construction was meticulously situated and faced towards the main, intermediate and secondary intermediate directions, and even the shape of the building was designed very thoughtfully. Here, we also notice a complete design of a mandala. The crowned woman head with a tear drop trailing on the cheek represents Hudavend Hatun, and the adjacent lion relief emphasize the tomb belongs to a dynasty member. The building’s burial floor is hidden underneath. Its windows and portal structure, its rim surfaces and its meaningful figures and symbols along with varied decorations the tomb of Hudavend Hatun has a unique architectural entity showing the aspects of Anatolian Seljuk and Mongolian ancient common cultures possessing comprehensive figures and symbols merging with its contemporary technical and artistic features has no precedent and it is an original architectural masterpiece. This article deals with the historic identity of Hudavend Hatun, who was the daughter of the Seljuk ruler Rukneddin Kılıç Arslan IV and his wife Fatma Hatun. Their time coincided with the collapse of Anatolian Seljuks. Hudavend Hatun was personally involved in the building of her own tomb as she desired very much to have her tomb made according to her instructions. This article concentrates on the architectural structuring of this building and elaborates on the significance of its decorations.

Keywords

Seljuk, Hudavend Hatun, mask, double headed eagle, phoenix, mandala, sufi