HONORING TURKEY’S MOSAIC ART
Several earthquakes shook southern Turkey and northern Syria on February 6th. The humanitarian and social aftershocks have been catastrophic and devastating. It is estimated that at least 50,000 people died, and millions lost their homes. It’s been over a month and it seems the world has gone silent. Turkey and Syria will take a lot of time to recover, so we’ll keep them in our thoughts and prayers. Today we are honoring Turkish mosaic art. We will honor Syrian art in a separate article, as both countries have such rich cultural lives, they deserve their own posts.
Turkey has one of the richest histories of all European countries. Its lands were the home of many civilizations. Among some of the most prominent ones, were Rman and Byzantine Empires, known for their stunning mosaic skills. Keeping that in mind it is no wonder that some of the most important mosaic masterpieces are situated in Turkey.
At this point, we can’t be sure how many of them survived the earthquakes, and human lives are more important, so no one is looking into that at the moment. However, once the dust settles and things start returning to normal it will be important to check how many of these amazing art pieces were left unscathed.
All of those gorgeous mosaic artworks that grace the floors and walls of ancient buildings, those charming patterns that adorn pots and plates, and even those tiny mosaic medallions with their questionable purpose and beauty, all tell a story of our past. Mythological scenes, subjects from daily life, and important characters depicted in these glorious mosaics stand as a testament to our past times and future progress. As such, they truly are of immense value.
One of the sites severely damaged in the earthquake is the famous Gaziantep Castle, one of the most prominent historical areas in Turkey. This magnificent and seemingly unremarkable castle has a unique history, with its mound being settled since prehistoric times. The small city of Gaziantep is also home to the amazing Zeugma Mosaic museum. This glorious building houses some of the finest Roman Empire mosaics.
This Roman-era castle is just one among the thousands of structures that were damaged or destroyed by the deadly earthquakes that struck Turkey. Nearby 17th-century Sirvani Grand Mosque also collapsed, as well as Adiyaman Ulu Grand Mosque and Karagoz Grand Mosque. Damage done to other historical and cultural heritages will be estimated in months to come.
In the end, art matters. It is what’s left behind those who came before us and it is what will remain after we leave. To quote Marcel Duchamp: “What art is, in reality, is this missing link, not the links which exist. It’s not what you see that is art; art is the gap.”
