Dating With Abjad in Safranbolu Historical Building Inscriptions
Abstract
This study was undertaken to identify and analyze the use of numerology (abjad) in the inscriptions of historical buildings in Safranbolu. Safranbolu district, known for preserving the original urban fabric and diverse architectural examples it encompasses, holds significance for Turkish art not only through its structures but also through the distinct features they embody. As Turkish-Islamic art progressed, this advancement manifested itself in inscriptions. Initially emerging with rudimentary expressions, inscriptions evolved into a literary realm, particularly during the Ottoman period, becoming enriched over time. This development extended beyond material, script type, writing technique, and literary quality, garnering attention with the application of numerology in dating. While employing numerology is considered a marker of literary skill, the practices reflected in inscriptions also present exemplary instances. Safranbolu, recognized for its historical and cultural value on the UNESCO World Heritage List, not only boasts urban aesthetics but also exhibits numerological practices represented beautifully in its inscriptions. In the field study conducted to identify these practices, around 100 inscriptions from ten different types of structures were examined, and examples utilizing numerology were identified. Transcriptions of these inscription texts were made, and the numerological technique used was deciphered, creating numerology verification tables, and these texts were converted into numerical results to investigate accuracy. When evaluating the types of numerology used, six different types were identified, some relatively straightforward, while others more challenging. For instance, the numerological technique known as “Literally” dating, where the year of construction is expressed in words rather than numerals, appeared in five examples among all inscriptions with numerology. In all other examples of Safranbolu inscriptions utilizing numerology, a more complex technique known as “Mânen” dating was used. This technique involves the sum of the numerical equivalents of letters in the numerological sentence yielding the desired number. In two examples from the studied inscriptions, it was determined that dating was indicated solely by the use of dotted letters in the sentence providing the numerology, representing the method of “dating with dotted letters”. The term “ta’miye” in Arabic, meaning “hidden” or “closed”, indicates numbers to be subtracted or added to achieve the desired date calculation in numerology. Two examples from the studied inscriptions represent instances of excessive “ta’miye” numerology, specifying the number to be subtracted from the resulting figure. In some instances, when the sum of numerical values for composing a historical phrase falls short, additional words are added to complete the deficiency and meaning. This dating technique, incorporating added words, is termed “complete date with addition”. These added words are not randomly chosen but may include prayers, wishes, or expressions of feelings. Two examples from our study represent this group. Numerology may not always be expressed throughout the entire sentence. In some instances, emphasis is placed on one or more words within the numerological sentence for dating purposes. This technique is referred to as “composite”, meaning “combined”. One inscription from our study represents an example of this group. In some applications, different numerological techniques can be used simultaneously. For instance, in one example from the study, dating was done using both the technique of dating with dotted letters and the “ta’miyeli” technique simultaneously. Based on the concrete data presented by these examples, it is concluded that Safranbolu, which houses examples of qualified Turkish architecture, also contains remarkable examples in terms of both quantity and quality in the context of numerological inscriptions used in some traditional structures, aligning with the architectural and cultural richness of the district.
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Safranbolu Tarihî Yapı Kitabelerinde Ebcedle Tarihlendirme
Abstract
Bu çalışma, Safranbolu ilçesindeki tarihi yapıların kitabelerindeki Ebced kullanımını tespit ve analiz etmek amacıyla yapılmıştır. Türk-İslam sanatındaki kitabeler, zaman içinde diğer sanat türleriyle birlikte gelişerek mimari eserler üzerinde işlev üstlenmişlerdir. Başlangıçta daha basit ifadelerle ortaya çıkan kitabeler, zaman içinde -özellikle Osmanlı döneminde- zenginleşerek edebi bir alan haline gelmiştir. Ebced kullanımı edebiyatta bir ustalık göstergesi olarak kabul edilirken, kitabelere yansıyan uygulamalarda da hayranlık uyandıran örnekler ortaya konmuştur. Sahip olduğu tarihi ve kültürel değerleri Osmanlıdan günümüze çok sağlıklı bir şekilde ulaştırmayı başaran ve bu özelliği ile de UNESCO Dünya Miras Listesinde kendine yer bulan Safranbolu, bu bağlamda bünyesinde çok farklı değerler barındırmaktadır. Gözle görünen estetik özelliklerinin yanı sıra Ebced gibi doğrudan görünmeyen, ancak özel bir çalışma ile ortaya çıkabilen özellikler taşıyan yapı kitabeleri, bu değerleri temsil eden unsurlardan sadece birisidir. Bunların tespitini amaçlayan bu araştırma kapsamında Safranbolu’daki geleneksel mimari örneklerinde bulunan 100’e yakın kitabe incelenmiş, bunların içinde ebced içeren örnekler belirlenmiş, metinlerinin transkripsiyonları yapılmış ve kullanılan Ebced tekniği çözümlenerek Ebced doğrulama tabloları ile metinler sayısal sonuçlara dönüştürülmüştür. Kitabelerde altı farklı türde Ebced kullanıldığı tespit edilmiştir. Bunların içerisinde kullanımı kolay tekniklerin yanı sıra kullanımı zor olan ve ustalık gerektiren tekniklerin de bulunduğu görülmüştür. Bu örneklerin ortaya koyduğu somut veriler ile Türk mimarlığının nitelikli örneklerini barındıran Safranbolu’nun, yapı kitabelerinde kullanılan Ebced örnekleri bağlamında da ilçenin mimari ve kültürel zenginliği ile örtüşen ve gerek nicelik ve gerekse nitelik bakımından dikkat çekici örnekler ihtiva ettiği sonucuna ulaşılmıştır.
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