13th century Seljuk, Byzantine and Caucasian Buildings as evidence of Cooperation between Christian and Muslim Artists

• Applicant: Professorin Dr. Neslihan Asutay-Effenberger
• Subject Area: Art History
• Term: from 2016 to 2022
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 322809186

Soon after the battle of Manzikert (1071) between the Byzantine Empire and the Great Seljuk Sultanate, Turkic groups established themselves in Anatolia, the heart of the Byzantine territory, and founded Rum-Seljuk Sultanate as well as some other principalities. The population consisted of different ethnic groups (Greeks, Armenians, Georgians, Turks, etc.) with diverse religious backgrounds (Orthodox/ Heterodox Christianity and Islam). The tolerance shown by rulers fostered a peaceful coexistence. In Seljuk Anatolia and in the Christian neighbourhood a large number of 13th century buildings have survived an indicator of this harmonious atmosphere. Similar structural solutions (masonry, vaulting, dome, etc.), a common vocabulary for carved ornaments, a comparable craftsmanship and a shared artistic taste are clearly visible. This phenomenon can only be explained with intensive interregional cultural contacts, mutual influences and close cooperation between Christian and Muslim artists. The project focuses on the Christian and Islamic monuments of the region and aims to show the cooperation between artists with various backgrounds in detail. The regional synthesis will be examined in a comparative art historical work, in which the 13th century monuments as well as the written sources and inscriptions will be considered.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants