ABSTRACT
In the search for ekphrasis in Islamic poetry, depicting the beauties of architecture, as well as poetry applied on architecture, as in the Ambassador’s Hall of the Alhambra Palace, Erzen finds the beauty of Islamic works from previous centuries express the sincere love and devotion of artists. It is thus important today to understand how poets and artists looked at the creations of their time.
Besides looking at historical poetry, the chapter examines two important texts on architecture as ekphrasis: the first is architect Sinan’s treatise on his works written in poetic form; the second is the eighteenth-century treatise by Cafer Çelebi on Mehmet Ağa, the architect of the Blue Mosque. The analysis of these examples will reveal the historic differences from the world of Islamic culture today and will lay bare the artistic intentions of their time. The chapter also examines a contemporary text written on a religiously inspired modern painting, hoping to exemplify the differences in modern and historical approaches.
Although we must understand the nostalgic search for the beauties of old religious architecture or literature and for the values that have changed and aged over more than hundreds of years, today, all categories pertaining to religious ideologies present problems of sincere adherence, as they become political tools to preserve old paradigms. Looking at both modern and historical texts will reveal the historical changes in approach to art and to writing.
