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Neoplatonism in Orthodox Christianity and Islam and Its Repercussions in Byzantine and Seljuk Architectures a Thesis Submitted T NEOPLATONISM IN ORTHODOX CHRISTIANITY AND ISLAM AND ITS REPERCUSSIONS IN BYZANTINE AND SELJUK ARCHITECTURES A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE GRADUATE SCHOOL OF SOCIAL SCIENCES OF MIDDLE EAST TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY BY ORÇUN SENA SARACOĞLU IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF ARTS IN THE DEPARTMENT OF HISTORY OF ARCHITECTURE JULY 2021 Approval of the thesis: NEOPLATONISM IN ORTHODOX CHRISTIANITY AND ISLAM AND ITS REPERCUSSIONS IN BYZANTINE AND SELJUK ARCHITECTURES submitted by ORÇUN SENA SARACOĞLU in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in History of Architecture, the Graduate School of Social Sciences of Middle East Technical University by, Prof. Dr. Yaşar KONDAKÇI Dean Graduate School of Social Sciences Prof. Dr. Fatma Cânâ BİLSEL Head of Department Department of Architecture Prof. Dr. Ali Uzay PEKER Supervisor Department of Architecture Examining Committee Members: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tolga BOZKURT (Head of the Examining Committee) Ankara University Department of Art History Prof. Dr. Ali Uzay PEKER (Supervisor) Middle East Technical University Department of Architecture Assist. Prof. Dr. Pelin YONCACI ARSLAN Middle East Technical University Department of Architecture PLAGIARISM I hereby declare that all information in this document has been obtained and presented in accordance with academic rules and ethical conduct. I also declare that, as required by these rules and conduct, I have fully cited and referenced all material and results that are not original to this work. Name, Last Name: ORÇUN SENA SARACOĞLU Signature: iii ABSTRACT NEOPLATONISM IN ORTHODOX CHRISTIANITY AND ISLAM AND ITS REPERCUSSIONS IN BYZANTINE AND SELJUK ARCHITECTURES SARACOĞLU, Orçun Sena M.A., The Department of History of Architecture Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Ali Uzay PEKER July 2021, 409 pages Neoplatonism was arguably a significant factor in esoterically nurturing Christianity and Islam. It was influential in forming the worldview, culture, art, and architecture of the two religions. This study aims to trace the repercussions of this influence in Middle Byzantine churches from the 11th and 12th Centuries and Seljuk mosques and madrasahs from the 13th Century in Anatolia. By analyzing the typologies in terms of their spatial configuration and decoration, both in respect to geometry, it questions whether it is possible to suggest Neoplatonism as instrumental for the formation of these architectures. The study not only highlights the common aspects within the typologies but also provides a comparison of the two architectural traditions. To do so, the study first provides a philosophical background regarding Neoplatonism. Based on the Neoplatonic ontology, the study generates iv three concepts, “hierarchy, duality and unity.” These ontological concepts are discussed to be transformed into design concepts by means of geometry. Later, case studies selected from each architectural tradition are examined in separate chapters regarding the traces of the three concepts. These examinations are held in relation to the cultural atmosphere and the liturgical characters of the eras, in both the Neoplatonic influence are observable. As a result of these analyses with a multidisciplinary approach, this study claims that Neoplatonic theories were known in Anatolia and influential for the worldview, culture and art of both the Byzantines and the Seljuks. These influences were possibly instrumental for the two architectures, embedded with religion and cosmology. Keywords: Medieval Architecture, Byzantine Architecture, Anatolian Seljuk Architecture, Architectural Symbolism, Neoplatonism v ÖZ ORTODOKS HRİSTİYANLIK VE İSLAM’DA YENİ EFLÂTUNCULUK VE BİZANS VE SELÇUK MİMARİLERİNDEKİ YANSIMALARI SARACOĞLU, Orçun Sena Yüksek Lisans, Mimarlık Tarihi Bölümü Tez Yöneticisi: Prof. Dr. Ali Uzay PEKER Temmuz 2021, 409 sayfa Yeni Eflâtunculuk, Hristiyanlık ve İslam’ı batıni olarak besleyen önemli faktörlerden biri olarak kabul edilmektedir. Bu felsefi akım iki dinin dünya görüşlerinin, kültürlerinin, sanatlarının ve mimarilerinin şekillenmesinde etkili olmuştur. Bu çalışma, 11. ve 12. Yüzyıl Orta Dönem Bizans kiliseleri ve 13. Yüzyıl Anadolu Selçuklu cami ve medreselerinde bu etkinin yansımalarını aramayı hedeflemektedir. Çalışma ayrıca bu yapı tiplerinin mekânsal özelliklerini ve bezemelerini çoğunlukla geometrik olarak inceleyerek, Yeni Eflâtunculuk’un bu yapıların oluşmasında bir tasarım aracı olarak kullanılıp kullanılmamış olduğunu sorgular. Çalışmada bu mimari geleneklerin ortak yönleri öne çıkarıldığı gibi iki geleneği kapsayan bir karşılaştırma da sunulmuştur. Bu amacı karşılamak için, öncelikli olarak Yeni Eflâtunculuk hakkında gerekli temel bilgi çalışmada sağlanmıştır. Ayrıca Yeni Eflâtuncu ontoloji vi temel alınarak “hiyerarşi, ikilik ve birlik” olmak üzere üç kavram türetilmiştir. Bu ontolojik kavramların geometri aracılığıyla mimari tasarım kavramlarına dönüşümü de yine çalışmada tartışılmıştır. Daha sonra, her iki mimari gelenekten seçilmiş örnekler üç kavram üzerinden tezin ayrı bölümlerinde incelenmiştir. Bu mimari incelemeler, Yeni Eflâtunculuk’un etkisinin görülebildiği dönemin kültürel atmosferi ve dini ayin ve ibadetleri ile ilişkilendirilerek yürütülmüştür. Disiplinler arası bir yaklaşımla yapılmış bu analizler sonucunda, Yeni Eflâtuncu teorilerin Anadolu’da bilindiği ve hem Bizans’ın hem de Selçukluların dünya görüşleri, kültürleri ve sanatsal üretimlerinde etkili olduğu savunulabilir. Bu etki büyük olasılıkla din ve evrenbilim ile iç içe olan bu iki mimari geleneğin şekillenmesinde rol oynamıştır. Anahtar Kelimeler: Ortaçağ Mimarisi, Bizans Mimarisi, Anadolu Selçuklu Mimarisi, Mimari Sembolizm, Yeni Eflâtunculuk vii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS First, I wish to express my gratitude to my supervisor, Prof. Dr. Ali Uzay Peker, who has always provided me with the guidance I need in the field. The autonomy and self-determination that he helped me to have enabled this study to become what I exactly wanted it to be. Secondly, I would like to thank Assist. Prof. Dr. Pelin Yoncacı Arslan from the bottom of my heart for her endless support with her expertise and her warm and joyful attitude. Also, I would like to thank Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tolga Bozkurt for his contributions to this study. I am grateful to my dear friend Zeynep Gür for her enormous mental support since the day we have met. Our joyful conversations have always been an escape for me. I would also like to express my thanks to my brother, Taha Emre Baran. Without his support, this thesis would have been harder to finish. I am also thankful to my family, who have supported me throughout this study. Last but not least, I would like to thank myself for always defining my own path and always staying dedicated. viii TABLE OF CONTENTS PLAGIARISM……………………………………………………………………iii ABSTRACT………………………………………………………………………iv ÖZ...............................................................................................................vİ ACKNOWLEDGMENTS............................................................................viii TABLE OF CONTENTS..............................................................................ix LIST OF FIGURES....................................................................................xiii CHAPTERS 1. INTRODUCTION.....................................................................................1 2. BASICS OF NEOPLATONISM AND USE OF NEOPLATONISM AS A TOOL FOR SEARCHING MEANING IN ARCHITECTURE.............28 2.1. The Theory of Emanation: God, Creation, and Universe According to Neoplatonism....................................................................35 2.1.1. The One...............................................................................40 2.1.2. The Intellect.........................................................................43 2.1.3. The Soul and the Material Universe.....................................45 2.1.4. The Humans........................................................................48 2.2. Neoplatonic Ontology and Concepts of Hierarchy, Duality and Unity................................................................................................51 2.2.1. Hierarchy..............................................................................51 2.2.2. Duality..................................................................................53 2.2.3. Unity.....................................................................................55 ix 2.3. Replicating the Divine Work: Perception of Architecture as Microcosm..............................................................................................57 2.4. Significance of Geometry and Geometry as a Tool for the Application of Hierarchy, Duality and Unity in Architectural Design.......60 3. REPERCUSSIONS OF NEOPLATONISM IN BYZANTINE ARCHITECTURE......................................................................................76 3.1. Impact of Neoplatonism on Byzantine Theology and Worldview.......................................................................................78 3.2. Significance of Middle Byzantine Churches as a Manifestation of Neoplatonic Understanding in Byzantine Culture.......87 3.3. Reflections of the Neoplatonic Concepts in the Spatial Characteristics of the Middle Byzantine Churches in Relation to Liturgy..................................................................................94 3.3.1. The Byzantine Rite as a Liturgy under Neoplatonic Influence.............................................................................................96
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