Recessed Arches in The Anatolian Seljuk Portals

Abstract

A second arch was built on the stalactite recessed arches and pointed vault arches in Anatolian Seljuk structures. This arches on the portals named as recessed enclosure arch. The researchers have also come to the conclusion that all of these arches are made for aesthetic purpose and that they had no functional purpose. In the Anatolian Seljuk Architecture the recessed arches of the portals had been made with stalactites and pointed vault arches. Although the stalactite system is made with the principle of an arch, it is not as successful as the arch in conveying the load from the top to the side wings. For that reason, the use of recessed arch was necessitated to reduce the load on stalactite recessed arch from the top to the maximum extent. The recessed arches are relieving arches that transfer the load from the top to the side wings of the portal and used as fully functional. However, the arches are decorated as they a very eye-catching location in the middle of the portal. The titivation of the arches and continuing up the moldings forming the decoration frame to the corner colonnette headings after the level of the stirrups caused the impression that these arches were made with aesthetic concerns.  These arches whose usage decreased during the period of Beyliks, it were no longer used during the classical Ottoman period because of changes in portal shapes. As a result of the conclusions reached, the term “recessed arch” has been recommended.