Abstract
Doğla Village is a settlement in the Mecitozu district of Çorum. The mosque in the center of the village, which was built to supply the needs of the villagers in the middle 19th century, reflects similar features with the mosque built in the countryside with external hipped roof, covering system placed in the middle of the internal flat wooden ceiling with bagdadi dome and basic space setup. Over the years, the villagers had done restorations on the weathered parts caused by nature and usage, so the building can be seen as soon as one enters the mosque’s countryard. These interventions manifest themselves in the outer space, entrance to the mosque and the minaret. There are also radical changes in the harim. For example, the original door providing the entrance to the harim was replaced with a wooden door with no artistic value. The frames of the windows illuminating the harim were renewed. The walls of the harim, the mihrab and the minbar are covered with wooden paneling up to half the height. The mahfel was extended in the east and west directions. The wooden preaching chair was replaced with a new one. Despite all these repairs, Wall painting in the harim were not interfered with. In the harim space, which is reminiscent of a painting gallery, it is seen that the areas outside the bagdadi dome, the area covered with the dome, the transitions and the upper floor windows are decorated with hand-drawn embroidery. The compositions that include floral patterns, writing, architectural depictions and geometric patterns are depicted in perfect harmony with contrasting colors. Although the date 1946 is read on the inscription cartridge in the bagdadi dome of the mosque, according to the information obtained from the villagers, it is known that the building was decorated with hand-drawn embroidery before this date. Considering the mosques in Mecitozu and the surrounding villages, it is seen that the villagers have carried out repair and renovation activities with their own means, especially in the last 50 years, in order to keep the buildings standing against time. During these activities, it should not be considered as a chance that the hand embroidery of Doğla Mosque has survived until today, especially considering that the hand-drawn embroideries decorating the wall surfaces and the ceiling were painted and covered. The aim of this study is to introduce and document the Doğla Mosque, which has not been the subject of any publication before, in terms of its architectural and decorative features. In addition, it is to try to reveal the hidden dynamics in the preservation of the wall paintings by the villagers until today. In the study, first of all, information about the architectural features of Doğla Mosque was given. Then, the hand-drawn embroidery of the Doğla Mosque, which is the representative of a deep-rooted ornamentation tradition, reflecting a certain period was introduced in detail. It is known that the hand-drawn embroidery of the mosque was renewed in 1946. However, there is no information about the muralist depicting the hand-drawn ornaments. In this context, a literature review has been made and a field research has been made in Mecitözü and its surroundings, and the names of muralists known in the structures containing hand-drawn ornaments are mentioned. The muralist who are frequently mentioned in the region are Zileli Emin and Nakkaş İbrahim. Considering the date on which the hand-carved embroidery of the Doğla Mosque was made, and the motif and composition features, it can be thought that the muralist who made the wall paintings of the Alören Mosque also adorned the Doğla Mosque. Another point that draws attention during the field research is that decorating the structures in the region with hand-drawn embroidery has continued as a tradition for many years. This ornamentation concept still continues. However, during the repair activities carried out in the buildings, it was seen that the hand-drawn embroidery was closed and sometimes new compositions were depicted instead of the closed wall paintings. In Doğla Village, hand-drawn embroideries have been preserved for nearly a century despite the numerous repairs carried out in the mosque by the residents of the village. Doğla Mosque hand-drawn embroidery is the application of the wall painting tradition seen in religious and civil architecture in Anatolia since the 18th century in a village mosque in Mecitozu. The hand-drawn embroidery has survived to the present day with the devotion of the villagers, rather than a spectacular artistic understanding, it is valuable in terms of the spiritual value it stores. The effect of belief, respect and exaltation feelings, which shape the cultural codes of the villagers, on other traditional habits and behaviors support this view.