The Projects of "The Anatolian Seljuk Civilization" and "The Great Seljuk Legacy"

The Legacy of the Sultans Video

“The Project of The Anatolian Seljuk Civilization” has been completed under the auspices of President Gül, stating that “All kinds of efforts to be made in order to protect, to take inventory and to promote the historical works deserve being remembered by gratitude”

Within the framework of the project, it has been aimed to promote the works which date back to the the Anatolian Seljuk era and reflect the financial, social, cultural and architectural features of the term. The current conditions of inns, caravanserais, hospitals, Muslim theological schools, mosques, domes, tombs, palaces and mansions in the cities founded in the Seljuk era were determined. These findings were published in form of a photograph album and a trailer.

The Photograph Album of the Anatolian Seljuk Works

This piece of work prepared by Ahmet Kuş, Feyzi Şimşek and İbrahim Dıvarcı and edited by Haşim Karpuz, Prof. Dr. is consisted of 2 volumes that are of 1000 pages. The piece of work whose preface was written by the President Gül is the first sample of its kind in respect to the fact that it covers all the works inherited from the Seljuk era and remaining heretofore. The album published in the languages of Turkish and English was printed as the Cultural Publications of the Municipality of Selçuklu.

The Legacy of the Sultans

The documentary film entitled “The Legacy of the Sultans” was made within the framework of the project and it is possible to watch the visual promotion of the prominent works which were constructed in the era of the Anatolian Seljuks and reflect particularly the insight about architecture and town planning.

The Symposium on the Anatolian Seljuk Cities and Civilization

One of the important events organized within the framework of the project was “The Symposium on the Anatolian Seljuk Cities and Civilization”. All the parties concerned with the Anatolian Seljuks gathered at the symposium that took place in Konya from October 7-8, 2008. Prof. Dr. Adem Esen the previous Selçuklu Mayor summarized the objective of the symposium as follows: “We, as the current authorities of the Seljuk cities, should be aware of the rich heritage and the soul of our cities and should convey this experience of our cities to the future. In this context, we are aiming to take common decisions concerning the past, today and the future of our cities by connecting the local authorities of the Seljuk cities and scientists working on them.”

The Union of the Historical Cities, the Union of the Turkish Municipalities, the Governorship of Konya, the Metropolitan Municipality of Konya and Selçuk University contributed to the symposium and the mayors whose cities host the Seljuk works gave some information in their speeches about the ongoing restoration activities in their cities.

The second symposium is planned to be organized by the Metropolitan Municipality of Kayseri.

The Project of the Great Seljuk Legacy

“The Project of Great Seljuk Legacy” started on November, 2009 pursuant to the accomplishment of “The Project of the Anatolian Seljuk Civilization” will go beyond the borders of the Anatolian territories and will be a draft inventory covering the works in the museums abroad.

The project that is planned to last for 30 moths was launched under the auspices of the President Abdullah Gül and is conducted by Konya Aydınlar Ocağı Derneği (the Intellectual Clubs Association of Konya) under the supervision of TİKA (Turkish Cooperation and Development Agency).

While on the short term it is aimed to take a complete inventory of the works belonging to the Great Seljuk Empire, on the long term it is aimed at determining our cultural heritage outside Turkey and consequently at protecting these works. The fact that no other study has been implemented within the framework of the project previously has generated the interest for this project.

More than 400 pieces of the Great Seljuk works in 12 countries determined will be photographed and registered. Also, the works of marble, wood, tile, ancient coins, rug, carpet, metal, stone and manuscripts existing in the museums with Seljuk collection in USA, UK, Germany, France, Syria and Iran will be photographed and introduced by short pieces of information. In particular, the architectural works will be photographed and made a documentary. The photographed works will be published in an album in 3 volumes and the whole study will be made a documentary of 120 minutes.