Reflections of Turkish Alp Tradition to Medieval Anatolian Depicted Art.

One of the important emperial images from antic ages till to the middle ages is probably the virtual usage of the “Mounted Troops”. The image of “Mounted Troops” or the hero as a representation of power has probably emerged from the idea of ruling which is realized with having war horses and in turn having military, commercial and political power. It is known that the Alp image in early Turkish Art has also been carried out in Anatolia after the migration to the West. This Turkish Alp taradition, which has been symbolized with heroic characteristics before the acceptance of Islam, has been transformed into Muslim-Turk and Alp-Gazi in accordance with the Islamic understandings of Cihad and Gaza. This image have also taken the form of Warrior-Derviş with the acceptance various Sufi Sects by the society. This study aims to show the reflections of Turkish Alp Tradition to the Anatolia of Middle Ages after the acceptance of Islam. The “Mounted Troops” of Middle Ages in Anatolia is the product of deep-rooted past which emerges from Turkish Culture before Islam and also continues with Islam. These images, either religious or not, has also been used as tools for sustaining psychological pressure on viewers in the chaotic time periods after Turks come to Anatolia. Of course, since the Middle Age Anatolia people are familiar with the image of “Mounted Troops”, this image has been chosen for sustaining the psychological pressure. So, “Mounted Troops (heroic)” images have been transformed to a virtual richness in various Art products with various materials which appeal to the image world of Anatolian people in middle Age.

Keywords

Alp- Dervish-Ghazi, Mounted Troop İmage, Middle Age, Anatolia