Stork in Turkish Culture and its Iconography in Ottoman Art

Certain animals have a great place in daily lives of different societies for various reasons. These animals, which are intertwined with humans in various activities such as agricultural work, food production, transportation, clothing, hunting and transportation, have also gained an important place in belief systeMS. This study focuses on the migratory bird stork, which inspired folk literature and music with its physical characteristics and life style. It first examines the meaning of the stork, which is depicted to meet various concepts in architectural decoration and handicrafts, in various societies throughout history. Then, the samples of stork depictions produced in Islamic lands outside of Anatolia were handled chronologically. Finally, the depictions and iconography of stork on works of art produced in different materials and dates in Ottoman society were evaluated in relation to the socio-cultural environment. In Turkish culture, the meaning of stork, which is variously associated with concepts of evil eye, abundance, good-bad luck, birth-death, famine-abundance, piety, righteousness, goodness, purity and joy, changes meaning according to the work of art it is depicted on. The surviving examples show that even though storks were popular in folk culture, their depictions in the folk art were not abundant. Instead, their depictions were restricted to a relatively more distinguished art works of high-status groups. © 2022, Abidin Temizer. All rights reserved.