Balkanlarda Görülen Yedigen Planlı Türbe Şemasının Kaynakları Üzerine Bir Değerlendirme

In the historical adventure of mankind, every number has acquired a special character, a uniquemystery and a metaphysical meaning. In this context, some numbers as personal and social symbolsare particularly emphasized as subjects of religion, science and art. The number seven that attractedcommunities from the earliest times has continued to exist, adding new ones to their meaning builtaround abundance, order, renewal and development. It is understood that the number seven has aspecial place in the culture and beliefs of Turks since pre-Islamic times. This privileged situation,which has been riveted with the influence of Islamic mysticism, has allowed many cults to be formedaround the number seven. Researches show that from the beginning of the 16th century to the mid-19th century, the tombs with heptagon shaped were built in the Balkans. The tombs of Otman Baba,Kıdemli Baba, Akyazılı Sultan, Demir Baba, Ali Baba and Abdullah Baba, which are the seventhshrines that have survived to the present day, are the original structures showing the characteristicsof the period in which they were built. Hasan-Hüseyin and Demirhanlı Gazi Ali Baba tombs, which have been rebuilt with modern materials, demonstrate the persistent use of a unique design, whichimplemented only in the Balkans. This element is not only limited to the plan scheme, it is also emphasizedin the architectural elements and decoration repertoires in the buildings. This unique design,which does not appear in other geographies of Turkish-Islamic architecture, should have been shapedby the combination of many factors.In this study, it is aimed to determine the sources of the heptagon shaped tomps, which is a monumentalproduct of beliefs developed on the axis of number seven.
Keywords: Balkans, Heptagon plan scheme, Sacred Number Seven, Otman Baba, Symbolism