Corner buttresses were an especially common element in Seljuk buildings and are treated as decorative motifs as well, as demonstrated by this richly carved stone buttress to the side of the main portal of the Gök Medrese. - SK.
Construction of the Gök Medrese in Sivas, Turkey, was begun for the vizier Fakhreddin Sahip Ata by the architect Kaluyan al-Qunawi in 1271. This façade is one of the earliest twin-minaret facades in Turkey. The façade (see AP.015) consists of stone carvings in high-relief derived in part from Syrian models and in part from local sources. The medrese followed a traditional four-iwan open court related to Syrian and farther eastern types. - SK
Creation date unknown. Photograph processed September 1967. Formerly catalogued as B41.013, AP.012. Notes written on the slide or index: Gök Medresi.
