Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
Scientific Journal “Central Asian courier”, cilt.1, sa.1, ss.12-25, 2025 (Hakemli Dergi)
In the worldview of the Turkic peoples, the belief in the afterlife held a significant place and was clearly reflected in the architectural construction and artistic decoration of
mausoleums. The ancient Turks believed in life after death, and this belief was embodied in their burial rituals and tomb-building traditions. With the spread of Islam, these concepts were enriched
with new religious notions and found expression in mausoleum architecture and epitaph inscriptions. Research objectives and tasks. The main objective of the study is to analyze the reflections of the
afterlife belief among the Turks in mausoleum architecture and decorative elements. The tasks are: to identify pre-Islamic Turkic burial traditions; to determine the influence of Islam on mausoleum
architecture; to examine the religious-symbolic meanings of epitaph inscriptions and ornamental patterns; and to reveal the religious, social, and cultural functions of mausoleums. Results. Based on
archaeological evidence and written monuments, the study analyzes the manifestations of the belief in life after death in the mausoleum construction of the ancient Turks. The structural solutions and
decorative elements of mausoleums were directly linked to eschatological beliefs. During the Islamic period, mausoleums fulfilled not only religious but also socio-cultural functions. Inscriptions and
ornaments on gravestones reflected the synthesis of Islamic principles and folk beliefs. Conclusion. The afterlife belief of the Turkic peoples occupied an important place in their mausoleum architecture and artistic traditions. This phenomenon demonstrates the continuity between the pre-Islamic and Islamic periods and contributed to the formation of the cultural heritage of the Turkic-Islamic
civilization.
Keywords: Turks, afterlife belief, mausoleum, architecture, decoration, gravestone, ornament,
Islamic tradition