Observations and Assessments of Some Epigraphic Graffiti Found on Entrances in Kaleiçi/Antalya

Abstract

Antalya has a long memory, home to buildings dating from Antiquity and the Medieval periods. Many of these have been studied within the scope of various disciplines, especially over the course of the last century. However, there still remain surprising remains and traces that are unrecorded/unpublished, and doubtless much still remains to be discovered, recovered, reinterpreted and further understood. In this study some graffiti, previously undocumented on some buildings in Kaleiçi/Antalya, are introduced and analyzed. These are examples in Arabic from the portal of the Atabey Armağanşah Madrasa, one of the important buildings dating from the Seljuk Period. In addition, some Rumi and Osmanlica examples of graffiti on the Alaeddin Camii (formerly the Panaya Church) and the Yeni Kapı hamam-bathhouse are introduced and analyzed. After providing some basic information on the buildings on which these graffiti are found, the graffiti on each is examined with their characteristic features-calligraphic style, morphological properties and measurements-then evaluated and commented upon.

Keywords

• Antalya
• Atabey Armağanşah Madrasa
• Alaeddin Mosque
• Yenikapı Bath

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