In south-west Turkey, at the western end of the Konya plain, on the shores of Lake Beyşehir, stand the ruins of an ancient Seljuk residence, the remains of which do not necessarily give us any idea of its original splendour: the palace of Kubadabad.
Built by Sultan Alaeddin Keykubad I in the early 13th century, this residence was the summer palace of the sovereign, who preferred to spend his winters in more southerly locations, close to the Mediterranean coast. The construction work at Kubadabad, supervised by the vizier Sadeddin Köpek, led to the creation of a complex of buildings capable of accommodating the prince and his entourage.
Abandoned at the end of the 13th century, the site was the subject of archaeological surveys between 1960 and 1990, and more recently. This research has revealed buildings that evoke the life of the court. Some of these were adorned with fine stucco decorations and sumptuous ceramic tiles produced using a variety of complex and perfectly mastered techniques. These ornaments are interesting in that they bring together a body of subjects that illustrate certain trends in medieval art in Islamic lands: princely representations, real and fabulous animals, plant repertoires, etc.
The palace of Kubadabad, which conjures up images of a dreamy Orient, is a happy mirror to the bucolic splendour of certain princely residences in the medieval West.
Built by Sultan Alaeddin Keykubad I in the early 13th century, this residence was the summer palace of the sovereign, who preferred to spend his winters in more southerly locations, close to the Mediterranean coast. The construction work at Kubadabad, supervised by the vizier Sadeddin Köpek, led to the creation of a complex of buildings capable of accommodating the prince and his entourage.
Abandoned at the end of the 13th century, the site was the subject of archaeological surveys between 1960 and 1990, and more recently. This research has revealed buildings that evoke the life of the court. Some of these were adorned with fine stucco decorations and sumptuous ceramic tiles produced using a variety of complex and perfectly mastered techniques. These ornaments are interesting in that they bring together a body of subjects that illustrate certain trends in medieval art in Islamic lands: princely representations, real and fabulous animals, plant repertoires, etc.
The palace of Kubadabad, which conjures up images of a dreamy Orient, is a happy mirror to the bucolic splendour of certain princely residences in the medieval West.