The Tombstones In The Graveyard Of Usküdar Rum Mehmet Pasa Mosque

The graves have been considered as the gates between the two worlds, as the junction of the world and the afterlife graves have been established. These places becoming a centre of history and art with the grave structures, held its importance due to the virtue being attributed to it in terms of moral atmosphere and our religion. The tradition of making headstones started with those named “balbal” planted in the graves by Turks in Middle Asia, though it has change in time and religion, it never disappeared and still used. The grave stones being product of the environment and the belief of the period, art traditions, the economical and social conditions, with the writing and ornamental compositions they bear, are the sole resource for many science particularly art history, and they are very significant to provide art enjoyment of then, its history, culture, social, military, religious, economical and the trade conditions. Moreover, the grave stones are resembling a document providing former Turkic cities. In the research made related to the graveyard of Rum Mehmed Paşa Mosque, the stones belonging to the Period of faith (1451-1481) have been determined, and being in different forms, but plain stones. The various patterns (cypress,date, pomegranade, rose, grape etc.) from religious sources with the iconographic meanings are densely used in grave stones could be seen on these stones. In the graveyard, of 63 grave yards, 43 headstones, 4 foot stones, 16 of them both head and foot stones have been seen. These gave stones have been categorized and examined in detailed. Among the stones examined,30 of them belonging to the men, 24 to the women. The identity of 9 stones is not clear. The graves in Mosque Graveyard in which the stones as well as the marble have been used possess the epitaphs between XVI-XIX centuries. On the Stones having inscription on the most important ornaments the damage related to the quality of the material is not high. It can be determined that the people from high-rank classes and possessions belonging to them can be seen from the line and labour. Furthermore, the plain stones a continuation of the tradition of making grave stones are an evidence of humble samples far away from showing off. The grave stones and our graveyards forms one of the most crucial component of the bridge we made with the past and indispensable cultural heritage. In this article, 63 stones and graves in Üsküdar Rum Mehmed Paşa Mosque Hazira in the period of Ottoman have been examined. In the study, the works have been photographed and the type of the stones and the ornamental characteristics have been tried to be examined with the Turkish grave stone art. Their aesthetic appearances are magnificent samples showing the occupations, titles and beliefs in the tombstones of the graveyard to continue the tradition of making grave stones. The stones having ethnographic and historical document, will be introduced by its place in Turkish-Islam art.

Keywords

Rum Mehmet Paşa Mosque, tombstone, inscription, decoration, art