The Great Seljuk Exhibition of the Museum of Turkish and Islamic ArtsThe Directorate General of Cultural Assets and Museums of Türkiye
The Seljuk empire ruled a vast stretch of land reaching from Afghanistan to Eastern Anatolia. The empire reached its peak during the reigns of Alp Arslan and Melikshah. It started to decline after the invasion of Transoxiana, then collapsed with the death of Sultan Sencer.
Savaşçı Kabartması by Anadolu Selçuklu DönemiThe Directorate General of Cultural Assets and Museums of Türkiye
The Seljuks opened the gates of Anatolia to the Turks with the Battle of Malazgirt (Manzikert). After the collapse of the Great Seljuk Empire, the Anatolian Seljuks rose to replace it.
Ceramic PitcherThe Directorate General of Cultural Assets and Museums of Türkiye
The cultural heritage of the Seljuks is extremely rich, and the influence of Seljuk art was felt in a large region extending from Syria to India. Seljuk art helped form a common language in the Islamic world between 1000 and 1200 CE.
Seljuk Brass LampThe Directorate General of Cultural Assets and Museums of Türkiye
The level of wealth and prosperity provided by the empire helped the development of every branch of art, from architecture to handicrafts. The number of products produced also increased. In the Seljuk collection of the Museum, manuscripts, ceramic and metal artifacts stand out.
Censer on Chain (Great Seljuk Period, end of 12 century)
This brass censer was made using the hollow casting technique. The body resembles a pigeon’s, but the bird's beak resembles that of a bird of prey. There is a worm-shaped handle between the bird's beak and the chest, and a ring on his neck for hanging.
Çini ParçasıThe Directorate General of Cultural Assets and Museums of Türkiye
Tile Fragment (12th Century) (Great Seljuk Period)
This tile was made using the mina'i technique. It is in the form of a star with six points. On its surface is a figure of a young man on a white background. His legs are crossed and his arms are spread wide.
The figure has a round face, almond-shaped eyes, and bow-shaped eyebrows. He has a red inner-dress, and a navy blue caftan and cap. The bands in the arms and the way he sits suggest that he may be a noble person.
SürahiThe Directorate General of Cultural Assets and Museums of Türkiye
Pitcher (12-13th century) (Great Seljuk Period)
This pitcher has a plain funnel and a cylindrical neck. This dark navy blue and turquoise pitcher was decorated and glazed with transparent glaze. The neck is decorated with vertical stripes and navy blue motifs on a turquoise surface, up to the shoulder.
KaseThe Directorate General of Cultural Assets and Museums of Türkiye
Bowl (12th century) (Great Seljuk Period)
This bowl was made using the mina'i technique. Patterns and figures are drawn using cobalt blue, brown, green, red and black colors on a white primed surface.
The center of the bowl depicts a round-faced, almond-eyed, bow-browed human figure sitting cross-legged on a throne holding a goblet. On each side of this figure are human figures whose arms are folded across their chests.
SürahiThe Directorate General of Cultural Assets and Museums of Türkiye
Pitcher (12th century) (Great Seljuk Period)
This cream-colored pitcher has a ring pedestal, a round body, a long thin neck and a sliced funnel. There is a figure made using the Lustreware technique on an off-white primer. Stylized geometric and herbal decorations cover the entire surface.
Konya Sarayı Alçı KabartmalarıThe Directorate General of Cultural Assets and Museums of Türkiye
Konya Palace Plaster Reliefs (13-14th) Anatolian Seljuk
This relief depicts two mounted warriors fighting a dragon and a lion. At the top, there is a large border with stars and geometric patterns. The surface is filled with herbal and palmette decorations and curved leaves.
The warrior on the left is fighting a dragon and the one on the right is killing a lion. They have characteristic Seljuk clothes and facial features.
The warrior on the left is fighting a dragon and the one on the right is killing a lion. They have characteristic Seljuk clothes and facial features.
Kadın Büstü - Mermer by Anadolu Selçuklu DönemiThe Directorate General of Cultural Assets and Museums of Türkiye
Woman's Bust (12-13th century) (Anatolian Seljuk)
The bust has a pronounced neck and head. There is a veil over the figure's head. The veil has decorations around the edges and the fabric folds fall to the neck and both sides of the head.
The back of the neck is roughly carved. This suggests that the bust was carved in order to be placed in a structure in such a way that only the neck and head would be seen.
Sanduka - Ahşap (1251/1252) by Anadolu Selçuklu DönemiThe Directorate General of Cultural Assets and Museums of Türkiye
Sarcophagus (1251-1252) (Anatolian Seljuk)
Carved in walnut tree, this sarcophagus is an example of a type of chest which was symbolically placed on the visitor levels of tombs. The body was buried at ground level in accordance with religious rules.
The lower and upper panels and the upper and lower borders of these panels are covered with jeli thuluth writings inscribed with a deep carving technique. The inscription includes couplets from Rumi's Masnavi.
Wool Carpet (13th century) (Anatolian Seljuk)
This carpet was made using the Çift Gördes (Turkish) technique and is very rich in decor and color. Large Kufi writings on wide borders are characteristic and create a monumental effect.
Kabartma - Grifon by Anadolu Selçuklu DönemiThe Directorate General of Cultural Assets and Museums of Türkiye
Griffin (Relief) (13th century) (Anatolian Seljuk)
The griffin, a mythical creature, was beloved during the Anatolian Seljuk Period. This relief is made of porous marble. It is believed that the relief was part of a continuous composition that had its left section broken.
