Fluted and Knotted Columns at Konya

When viewed as a significant settlement throughout history, Konya has been an exceptional cultural center in central Anatolia. The city was visited by the Apostle Paul during his missionary journeys with its people converting to Christianity as early as the first half of the 1st century. The Byzantine stone works detected in the city prove that extensive building activity took place beginning from the 3rd century. In this article, we would like to present an important group of artefacts which were incorporated into the Alaeddin Mosque and the Kapı Mosque in Konya. These artefacts consist of six knotted and fluted columns, examined and published by various scholars over the years without any detail or stylistically analysis. After elaborate evaluation in terms of technique, dimensions, motifs and style implemented in conjuction with the city’s history, it is concluded that these columns were manufactured by engraving the older ungrooved columns during the 10 th-11th centuries. They are unique based on their motifs and style; and their original function was controversial due to their enormous size for the Middle Byzantine period church settings. Upon close examination of the columns, it is realized these columns have indents and lead sockets on one side which functioned as seatings for the slabs. It is evident they served in a columned templon which can only rarely be seen in the Middle Byzantine period.

Keywords

Konya, Alaeddin Mosque, Kapı Mosque, Byzantine stone work, column