CULTURAL INTERACTION AND ASTROLOGICAL ELEMENTS BETWEEN 12th CENTURY-13th CENTURY WITH EXAMPLES FROM ÇEŞME MUSEUM

Ceren ÜNAL; H. Sibel ÜNALAN ÖZDEMİR

CULTURAL INTERACTION AND ASTROLOGICAL ELEMENTS BETWEEN 12th CENTURY-13th CENTURY WITH EXAMPLES FROM ÇEŞME MUSEUM

Date

2019

Authors

Ceren ÜNAL

H. Sibel ÜNALAN ÖZDEMİR

Abstract

Figures on the coins of the Artuqids and the Zengids are veryimportant for displaying the traditional coin mints and the styles ofdepictions throughout the centuries, especially regarding culturalinteraction during the 12th and 13th centuries. The figural coins of theAnatolian Turkish Beyliqs in Çeşme Museum present us with theinterrelation between the Byzantine Empire and Beyliqs, as well asreflecting ancient coin depiction types. The cultural interaction betweendifferent cultures during various centuries in Anatolia and the use ofcommon types of depictions on their coins are the best examples ofcultural flow. Coins are rich artifacts as a result of their depictions, inaddition to their economic value. Coins demonstrate the original valuesof their cultural and sociological era, and they display artistic sharingand the preferences of their period. Anatolia has hosted a variety ofcultures for many centuries and was the cradle of cultural interaction;it displays common traits from different ages and cultures. Thetraditional Byzantine coin types affected the coins of the Artuqids andalso influenced the coins of the Zengids that are associated with closepolitical and economic relations. The relationship between cultures willbe researched with the help of coin iconography and different commentsfrom the researchers will be investigated in detail with respect to the coin types. Figural coins of the Artuqids, Begteginids and the Zengidsfrom Çeşme Museum will be examined and they will be classifiedaccording to their type of depiction. The meaning of the mythologicaland astrological aspects of the coin depictions of these Beyliqs will beresearched and discussed with respect to the different remarks from theresearchers. The relationship between the astrological elements and thecoin depictions of the Artuqids, Begteginids and the Zengids will bepresented and compared with antique coin types.A group of mourning figures on the copper coins of the Artuqidsfrom Çeşme Museum will also be analyzed with the help of variouscomments from different researchers. The iconography of the coins ofthe Artuqids, Begteginids and the Zengids from Çeşme Museum will bepresented with the help of the common depiction types that are sharedwith the Greeks, the Roman Empire, and the Byzantine Empire. Thereflection of socio-cultural exchanges during the 12th and 13th centuriesin Anatolia will be evaluated based on coin iconography.