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Spolia Usage in Anatolian Rulers: a Comparison of Ideas for Byzantines, Anatolian Seljuqs and Ottomans

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Spolia Usage in Anatolian Rulers: a Comparison of Ideas for Byzantines, Anatolian Seljuqs and Ottomans ITU A|Z • Vol 12 No 2 • July 2015 • 3-17 Spolia usage in Anatolian rulers: A comparison of ideas for Byzantines, Anatolian Seljuqs and Ottomans Bilge AR [email protected] • Department of Architecture, Faculty of Architecture, Istanbul Technical University, Istanbul, Turkey Received: February 2015 Final Acceptance: April 2015 Abstract Te re-evaluation and re use of antique construction material as spolia may have much deeper meanings than sole economic purposes. It may be because of aesthetic taste or the wish to give a political or religious message. Te origins and choice of spolia, the motives for the use of it, possible political, ideological, litur- gical and perhaps legal reasons behind it must all be evaluated. Spolia materials are subject to many diferent felds by nature of their given and original lives. Tis work covers some ideas between approaches to spolia material and meanings attibuted to them in mainly monumental buildings of Byzantine Empire, Anato- lian Seljuq Sultanate and Ottoman Empire. Te evaluation starts with the reign of Constantine, on vast lands covering the East and the West, Rome and Constan- tinople where extensive use of spolia was deliberately applied. Trough Middle Ages diferent approaches were encountered in Europe, Byzantine territories and in the lands dominated by Anatolian Seljuqs. Later on while Early Ottoman era applications get integrated to the applications of the Byzantine era, a completely diferent attitude and usage is developed during Classical Ottoman era. Tis work tries to give an overview of these usages and the ideas behind them through some comparative ideas. Keywords Ottoman Architecture, Anatolian Seljuq Architecture, Reuse, Roman-Byzantine Architecture, Spolia material. 4 Diferent felds approached spolia tion of Suleymaniye Complex provides material from diferent points of view, most through and concrete data on but mostly the attention was given to the spoliation procedures in imperial the pieces themselves but not to the monuments of Classical Ottoman era, new context they existed in. Since which Tanyelis’ article benefted a lot 1950s more research started to be from. Early Ottoman era on the other done on spolia material and research- hand present much diferent attitudes es increased a lot during 1980s (Esch, toward spoliation and appropriation of 2011, Kinney, 2006. For and overview antique and Byzantine elements into of reuse studies see also: Brenk, 1987, architecture. Two articles by Ouster- Greenhalgh, 1989 and Esch, 1969). hout (1995 and 2004) concentrate on Such studies on spolia usage in Turkic cultural appropriation of the past in empires also coincide with these dates. Early Ottoman arhictecture in relation Architecture of the Anatolian Seljuqs is with the defnition of ethnic identity very rich on spolia architectural pieces and East and West connections. For and even spolia statues. As this topic the understanding of the subject Ous- starts to attact the attention of scholars terhout uses reused material and reap- around the world, spoliation in Ana- plied building techniques. tolian Seljuq architecture also attract- Ideas behind the use of spolia mate- ed attention of some scholars such as rial could be better understood if eval- Öney (1968) in her article titled “Ele- uated by using the diferent approaches ments from Ancient Civilizations in to the subject from all diferent dis- Anatolian Seljuq Art” and Demiriz ciplines dealing with it. Esch (2011) (1970-71) where she makes a thorough presents a discussion on diferent ap- examination of the Byzantine con- proaches of an archaeologist, art histo- struction material reused in Atabey Er- rian and historian on this matter. In his tokuş Madrasa. Some more recent ex- terms; for an archaeologist “the spoli- amples of the existing major works on um is a piece that was removed from this matter might be listed as Redford’s Antiquity” and so the archaeologist is (1993) article on Anatolian Seljuqs and “inclined to bring the spolium back to Antiquity (also exits in Turkish: Red- its original home, as it were once more ford, 2001) and Ötüken’s (1996) article to complete the ancient monument on Antique and Byzantine monuments that was damaged through spoliation. in Bursa. It is not so surprising that On the other hand for the historian spolia usage in Ottoman era did not and art historian the same piece was attract the attention of scholars until a “received from Antiquity” since schol- later time. Actually even the complete ars of these felds “take an interest just change in attitude between Anatolian in the new contexts and ask; in what Seljuq and Classical Ottoman archi- sense the use of spolia was actually the tecture comes to mind as a subject of appropriation of Antiquity – or simple study and the circumstances that lead recycling- or something else all togeth- to this diference have not been stud- er” (Esch, 2011). Brenk (1987) tries to ied before. Classical Ottoman archi- clarify some approaches of art histo- tecture seems to have not much room rians, archaeologists and iconologists. for non reworked spolia pieces in their He deals more with the ideology of de- original appearances, at least in impe- spoliation. Usage of construction ma- rial monuments. Tey are composed terials taken from ruined buildings has in accordance with the strict stylistic been a widespread method in new con- decisions of the court architects. And structions for ages. It was a common so the worked pieces with an applied practice in Roman architecture and es- appearance did not drew enough at- pecially started to be used extensively tention until U. and G. Tanyeli’s (1989) in the era of Constantine. Alchermes study handling spolia material usage in (1994) gives examples from Roman era Classical Ottoman architecture in 16th that Constantine’s approach already to 18th centuries. Tis article seems to existed in examples like the Temple be the only one concentrating on this of Romulus, founded by Maxentius period except case studies. Barkan’s which was decorated with architectural (1972) detailed study on the construc- sculptures taken from older buildings. ITU A|Z • Vol 12 No 2 • July 2015 • B. Ar 5 Other examples are triumphal arches ings and religious buildings: the trium- from Diocletian’s era which included phal arch and the Lateran church; and 2nd and 3rd century reliefs in them, this is evidence of a deliberate building celebrating the emperor and his fellow programme. As a non aristocratic rul- tetrachs (Alchermes, 1994). Since none er, reusing triumphal reliefs Constan- of the architects of the Late Antique, tine “expressed his desire for sovereign Early Christian and Medieval times legitimacy”. Although in later centuries explained why they reused materials the economic situation switches, need from ruined buildings there are no of materials and economic reasons can texts to help with understanding of the not be the reason for the use of spo- ideology behind these. Tere are sever- lia during Constantine’s era. Brenk’s al suggested ideas though. Some schol- (1987) strong opposition sounds log- ars relate this to practical economic ical: “I do not at all see how it could reasons. Others on the other hand deal have been possible to save money by with the concept of spolia as collec- using spolia. Someone capable of erect- tion and display of the antique mate- ing such numerous and great buildings rial in new buildings. Te choices and as Constantine had vast funds avail- re evaluation of antique construction able to him. Tere can not have been material may be about aesthetic taste a lack of artists, either, since the actual or the wish to give a political or reli- triumph of Constantine was carved by gious message. Te origins and choice contemporary sculptors. One cannot of spolia, the motives for the use of it, avoid thinking this triumphal arch was possible political, ideological, liturgi- commissioned by someone who clearly cal and perhaps legal reasons behind intended to use spolia. Te arch, there- it must all be evaluated. Even scholars fore, is not precipitous patchwork but of the same felds have contradictory a prominent monument of imperial explanations. As Brenk quotes; Deich- propaganda by defnition.”. Constan- mann (1975) and Krautheimer (1969) tine’s policies about usage of spolia ma- are two noted representatives of two terial were also operative in rest of the methods. Deichmann (1975) explains empire. Te same ideas were applied the reason mainly by the increasing in the construction of the new capital; economic weakness of late Antiquity, Constantinople. Tis time the public whereas Krautheimer (1969) explains monuments he imported to decorate the spolia material in ffh century Ro- his new city were used for developing man churches as proof of a renaissance the correct connections for the new of classical antiquity. Brenk (1987) capital rather than his own image. Ous- dealing with the era of Constantine, terhout (2004) relates these eforts with focuses on the problem of the origins the Eastern/Trojan ancestry of Romans of despoliation in this period. Many of and gives the Serpent Column in the the material used are transported over Hippodrome as an example that brings long distances instead of the economic to mind the confict of the Greeks choice of re using local materials. Te and the Persians. He also refers to the earliest examples constructed with ex- sculptural program of Baths of Zeux- tensive usage of spolia of the era are ippos and interprets it saying much of the Arch of Constantine, the Lateran the borrowed symbolism in early Con- Church and St. Peter’s in Rome. Te stantinople referred to the Trojan leg- Arch of Constantine consecrated in end (Ousterhout, 2004). In 5th century 315 in honour of the victory of Con- despoliation became a widespread and stantine over Maxentius at the Milvian legalized method.
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