The Stone Ornament Elements of Cacabey Madrasah and Tomb in Kırşehir

Abstract

Madrasahs have an important place among the architectural works created in the Anatolian Seljuk period. The madrasahs, which met the educational needs of the period, stand out in terms of artistic decoration as well as their architectural functions. Cacabey Madrasah, one of the most important structures of Kırşehir, has four iwans and is in the plan group of madrasahs with closed courtyards and dome resting on supports. The madrasah, has a very rich content in terms of stone decoration. The botanical and geometrical ornaments are intense in the building; In some areas, elements such as three-dimensional spheres, stalactites and buttresses were used for decoration. While the building has a more simple and appropriate decoration content among its contemporaries, it is quite rich in terms of decoration variety compared to the region where it is located. This study, It is about the examination of the stone ornaments in the Cacabey Madrasah and Tomb in Kırşehir and the reflections of the Seljuk-Ilkhanid influences on the decorations.