What does tughra mean?
A tughra (Ottoman Turkish: طغرا, romanized: tuğrâ) is a calligraphic monogram, seal or signature of a sultan that was affixed to all official documents and correspondence. Inspired by the tamgha, it was also carved on his seal and stamped on the coins minted during his reign.
What are the origins of the tughra?
The origin of the tughra’s looping shape is unknown but it may have been inspired by the silhouette of a falcon or a piece of horse hair. Sultans would choose their own personal tughra from a range of signatures drawn up by a court calligrapher on the day of their accession.
Where is the tughra?
Tughra of Sultan Süleyman the Magnificent The documents created by this elite agency, housed in the Topkapı Palace in Istanbul, were specifically designed to reflect the power and magnificence of the ruler in whose name they were issued.
What does the Ottoman seal mean?
Green half-moon below the sultan’s seal (Tughra) symbolizes that the Ottoman state is the guard of the all Muslims of the World. The board where medallions hang symbolizes the roots of the Ottoman State and Turkish culture. Medallions hanging in the bottom symbolize various ethnic nations within the empire.
When was the tughra of Suleiman made?
Tughra (Official Signature) of Sultan Süleiman the Magnificent, ca. 1555–60, ink, opaque watercolor, and gold on paper, 25 x 30″ / 63.5 x 76.2 cm) (The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York). Video from The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
When was the tughra of Suleiman the Magnificent made?
Tughra (Official Signature) of Sultan Süleiman the Magnificent, ca. 1555–60, ink, opaque watercolor, and gold on paper, 25 x 30″ / 63.5 x 76.2 cm) (The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York).
What practical purpose might have been served by the Tughras intricate design?
The tughra is an intricate decorative device that served as the imperial monogram of the Ottoman sultans and was the ultimate symbol of their power. First adopted on documents – the earliest examples are from the fourteenth century – its use extended to coins, seals and other inscriptions.
What is the Ottoman Empire symbol?
Every sultan of the Ottoman Empire had his own monogram, called the tughra, which served as a royal symbol….
| Coat of arms of the Ottoman Empire | |
|---|---|
| Armiger | Sultan Abdul Hamid II |
| Adopted | 1882 |
| Order(s) | Medals of five of the Ottoman decorations |
| Other elements | Cornupia, anchor and scale |
What does the word tughra mean in Arabic?
Islamic art is ripe with naturalistic plant-inspired imagery. In Arabic, the word tughra actually means ‘enclosed garden.’ If viewed from a short distance, there are three swirls of blue and gold floral patterns within the main teardrop.
What was the name of the first tughra?
Depending on the period, this name can be as simple as Orhan, son of Osman in the first tughra in 1326. In later periods honorifics and prayers are also added to the name of the tughra holder and his father. The loops to the left of the tughra are called beyze, from Arabic meaning egg.
What does the seal of a tughra mean?
Though all tughras follow a similar pattern of ovals and vertical lines, each Sultan’s signature is unique. The tughra lists given titles, names, and father’s name in calligraphy. Suleyman’s seal declares him “ever victorious” through a unique interaction of colors and strokes typical of Arabic calligraphy.
What do the loops to the left of the tughra mean?
The loops to the left of the tughra are called beyze, from Arabic meaning egg. Some interpretations of tughra design claim that the beyzes are supposed to symbolize the two seas the sultans held sway over: the outer larger loop signifying the Mediterranean and the inner, smaller loop signifying the Black Sea.