The Miracle of Divriği — Doğan Kuban

Divriği is a miracle It is one of those very unique and seldom found miracles in the world s long history of art Commissioned in the 13th century by Turan Melek the wifw of Ahmet Shah beg of the Mengücek Principality the mosque and hospital complex in Divriği a remote corner of Anatolia has continued for seven hundred years to present us with unparalleled architectural form and virtual symphony of ornamentation With its lush outpouring of description and absolutely magnificent stonework this brave work of art rears its head in opposition to all of the artistics norms of its preiod Bequeathed to mankind by an unknown artisan of great skill the complex in Divriği stands to this day as the region s sole and unequalled example of magnificent architecture In The Miracle of Divriği Doğab Kuvab provides us with a detailed account and description of the Divriği Mosque and Hospital from historical societal and art stic perpectives and acquaints us with an architectural masterpiece that has been previously overlooked in world art history This unmatched example of Anatolian art is rediscovered with new interpretations and is further enriched with original prints drawwings based on Divriği ornamentation froms by sculptor painter Ali Teoman Germaner and by the photographs of Ara Güler and Murat Germen