The Turkish nation is a people who live with their deceased, their ancestors. Our forefathers, our respected elders, and our family are all sacred to us. Our tradition of respecting our elders is a value that dates back to pre-Islamic times. This tradition has been passed down through generations, becoming a living practice. The “ancestral culture” concept that we had during the Central Asian periods of our history is a concrete manifestation of this.
Our love and respect for our ancestors, which we had in the pre-Islamic era, gained a new dimension with the transition to the Islamic era. Especially with the transition to the Islamic era, concepts of love, respect, and reverence for parents are emphasized in the Quranic verses and the hadiths of the Prophet Muhammad. This value and tradition became a shared heritage of all Turkish states and communities throughout Turkish history. This way of life that began before the Islamic era has continued to be passed down through generations, reaching the present day.
This understanding of our ancestors has continued even after their passing. Especially the tombs of our ancestors, the gravestones, are the most concrete examples of this tradition. Particularly during the Ottoman era, tombstones were elegantly designed and constructed as a result of this tradition. These tombstones, which are national cultural assets, have survived to the present day and have become symbols of the civilization we created in the past.
Although our forefathers have departed from this transient world, we continue to live with our deceased in the cemeteries located in the central areas of our cities and in the courtyards of our mosques. They have always been a part of our lives and our existence. The famous anecdote about our poet Yahya Kemal illustrates this way of life. When asked about the population of Turkey during his time as the ambassador to Madrid, Yahya Kemal responded, “Turkey’s population is 50 million.” At that time, the total population of our country was about 14 to 15 million. People present there were greatly astonished by this response and asked in amazement, “How is that possible?” In response, Yahya Kemal explained, “There’s nothing surprising about it; we are a nation that lives with our deceased!”
As a result of this sentiment expressed by the famous poet, cemeteries and tombs located in the heart of our cities were constructed with great aesthetics and elegance. The tombstones created during the Ottoman period are remarkable examples of our high civilization, both in terms of stone craftsmanship and the literary richness of the inscriptions. Particularly, the tombstones from the Ottoman era are outstanding examples of the high civilization that inspired everyone as an aesthetic element.
These tombstones, which are a result of a high artistic sense, are differentiated from each other based on specific attributes such as the title, profession, and gender of the deceased. The tombstones also serve as a lasting identity for the deceased until the Day of Judgment.
The headstones of the cemeteries are referred to as “serpuş.” Especially from these headstones, one can easily determine the affiliation of the deceased with various orders or communities, such as Mevlevi, Bektashi, or Melami. Similarly, by examining the headstone, one can gather information about the profession of the deceased, such as being a janissary, judge, artisan, or religious scholar. Especially for women’s graves, various motifs such as flowers, spring branches, necklaces, earrings, and brooches are used for decoration, and the inscriptions on the tombstones are carefully crafted.
Tombstones with turbans are mostly associated with dignitaries of the state or scholars. If the headstone is in the form of a “kavuk,” the deceased is likely to have been an Islamic scholar, judge, mufti, imam, dervish, or a spiritual leader. If the tombstone is in the form of a “kallavi” with a “kavuk,” it is often used for viziers, high-ranking officials, and admirals.
For young girls who passed away at an early age, a broken rose or flower branch motif was used, symbolizing their youth and unmarried status. For mothers and daughters who died during childbirth, a tree motif was used within the tree motif, creating a sense of continuity.
In addition to these, various tombstones contain elements or inscriptions that reflect the identity of the deceased. Various tree and plant motifs, as well as geometric shapes, were commonly used. These specially designed tombstones were erected at the initiative of the deceased’s relatives. These tombstones were never built in a showy or pretentious manner; all motifs and identity-defining elements were elegantly designed.
During the Ottoman era, tombstones were erected with a delicate spirit, serving as both a manifestation of respect for our forefathers and a result of their continued presence alongside us in the heart of our cities.
Unfortunately, in our present day, we have built showy and pretentious graves that lack aesthetics, and we have moved our cemeteries far from our cities and living spaces to avoid reminding us of the transient nature of the world and death. As a result, humanity has begun to forget their ancestors, their national identities, and most importantly, the reality of death. Yet, one of the most significant components of our identity is indicated by the tombstones that point to our ancestors. One of the underlying principles of our culture is the belief in death and the afterlife. With the hope of rediscovering its meaning along with its aesthetics, this cultural background that shapes our identity is essential.
