Research Information System
Art-Sanat Dergisi, no.22, pp.335-360, 2024 (ESCI)
Decorated tombstones from the Middle Ages seen in Central Anatolia and its surroundings are generally in the form of sarcophagi, rams, sheep and horses. These tombstones have been produced since the 12th century. On their surfaces, mostly feature depictions of humans, horses, lions, deer, birds, mountain goats, rabbits and snakes/dragons. It is seen that the figures in question are brought together with different and crowded compositional setups. One of the tombstones with this feature is currently exhibited in the stone artifacts section of Eskişehir Eti Archeology Museum. In the work with inventory number A.449-08 (A-161-68), a deer and a rabbit between two lions are placed on one of the side surfaces. This scene, in which the animals in question are shown in motion, gives the impression of a prey/ animal struggle at first glance. However, given the context of the scene and the symbolism of the lion, deer, and rabbit in the Middle Ages and earlier periods, an alternative interpretation appears plausible. In this study, an attempt was made to analyze the iconography of the scene on the sarcophagus. For this purpose, the symbolism of each motif and especially its connection with death were examined, taking into account their use on tombstones of the same period.