TÜRK SANATINDA TENGRİ-TANRI DAMGASI
TENGRI-GOD’S TAMGAS IN TURKISH ART

Summary/Abstract: The beliefs coeval to the history of humanity and the religious practices which have developed depending upon these beliefs are related to the notion of God. In this context, even if the name or the notion of God in the minds differentiates in each belief, the God believed to be the creator has always been accepted as sacred. Human beings that leave permanent traces on the earth have wanted to state their faithfulness to God through art which is one of their vital activities. This situation has established a ground to occur the works, structures, signs or tamgas that symbolize God and the belief of the related culture. The tamga of "Tanrı" which is of a significant place also in other beliefs besides Turkish-Islamic culture emerges in this context. Tradition of sealing which has a symbolic and artistic value reveals itself also with the tamga of "Tanrı-Tengri" which is a statement of holiness besides the other tamgas of tribes in Turkish culture. Traces of this tradition have emerged on almost every kind of materials from Middle Asia to Anatolia either as directly a tamga or as a form by being turned into a motif. Some productions and signs originated in symbolism are some necessities of beliefs. It is probable that meanings of these signs have changed, been forgotten or meaningless in time. As far as we are concerned, in the beginning of its formation each symbol-tamga was meaningful to the people who composed it. In this respect, the tamga of "Tanrı" emerged on almost every kind of materials has not been placed randomly and meaninglessly. This paper is upon the notion of "Tanrı" in Turkish culture and the tamga of "Tanrı" as the reflexion of this notion in art.

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