Use of Unglazed Brick in Monumental Architecture as an Ornamental Element

Abstract

Anatolia had been a region for many civilizations that built many religious and cultural monumental structures, some of them survived today. One of the most important and common materials used in these structures; which cover crucial information about the properties of these old civilizations such as their socio-cultural status, religious - administrative decisions, construction technology, traditions and lifestyles; was brick. In many monumental structures; besides its use in construction, brick was also used within the context of ornamentation; and it became one of the important ornamental elements in certain periods. Within this paper; the use of brick in Anatolia in ornamental context is studied; weaving systems, dimension, color and setup are presented in detail covering the Seljukians, principalities and early Ottoman Periods.