Karamanlidika Tomb Stones of Meryem Ana Church in Kula

Abstract

In Kula, some of the tombstones was founded during the recent restoration works of Meryem Ana (Mother Mary) Church have some texts which was written in Turkish by using Greek letters, also known as Karamanlidika. The importance of these samples in Kula, are increasing in consideration of absence of tombstones which have Karamanlidika texts in western Anatolia. We are learning some informations about orthodoxes of Kula from their tombstones which can be dated approximately between 1840's and 1890's. The monumental size, form, design and decoration style of the tombstones and usage of same stone for more than one person are exhibiting tombstone tradition of Christians of Kula. The absence of tombstones dated after 1890's is evoking that the cemetery of church was fulfilled capacity or another field was assigned as a cemetery in the city in these period. It is also important that one of the tombstone's Turkish text written by using both Armenian and Greek letters.