SOCIOPOLITICAL SYMBOLIZATION OF STARI MOST1 : CONSTRUCTION, DESTRUCTION, RECONSTRUCTION

Yiğit Anıl Güzelipek

Research Article

SOCIOPOLITICAL SYMBOLIZATION OF STARI MOST: CONSTRUCTION, DESTRUCTION, RECONSTRUCTION

Year 2019, Volume: 6 Issue: 2, 322 - 331, 28.02.2019

Yiğit Anıl Güzelipek

Abstract

The long-lasting
Ottoman domination towards the Balkans were based on various dynamics. Besides
the Empire’s political and economic tools; the unique
characteristic of Ottoman architecture was reflecting the Empire’s dominance over the territory. In this context, Stari Most (Bridge
of Mostar) which is located in the borders of today’s Bosnia and
Herzegovina should be considered as one of the greatest heritage of Ottoman
Empire in the Balkans. Despite of the
fact that in the very beginning, the bridge was constructed only for public’s
transit; in the course of time, the bridge took symbolic meanings on itself. Besides
its strategic importance during the Yugoslav Wars; the Bridge was symbolizing a
“sociological and political hyperlink” between the Muslim and non-Muslim societies of the
Mostar City. On the other hand, at the utmost level, the bridge was one of the
symbol of Yugoslavia’s togetherness until its destruction. Yet, during the
Yugoslav War, in 1993 Stari Most is
destroyed by heavy artilleries. In other words, the 1993 shelling was not only
aiming the bridge but also aiming the togetherness of Bosnian Muslims and the
Catholic Croats. Likewise its destruction; the reconstruction of the Stari Most had also become very
meaningful in the sense of the reappearance of international community in
Bosnia and Herzegovina. This study aims to give the answer of the following
question: How/Why a simple bridge can
take on symbolic meanings in the course of time? The research question is
elaborated by investigating the Ottoman period, Titoist Yugoslavia and aftermath of the Yugoslav Wars.

Keywords

Stari Most, Ottoman Empire, Yugoslavia, International Community, Symbolization

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