A curious manuscript from the beylik period: recontextualizing Falname (No.5179)|

Official URL: https://risc01.sabanciuniv.edu/record=b2748626_(Table of contents)

This thesis examines a fortunetelling manuscript called Falname (no.5179) from the National Library of Turkey, which has previously been dated to the 16th century. The study focuses on the question of whether the manuscript was produced earlier than suggested, namely in the Beylik period, by analyzing the text and the illustrations. Written in Old Anatolian Turkish, and with each verse illustrated, the manuscript’s unique mode of representation contributes to our understanding of the sophistication of bibliomantic traditions during this particular period, as well as the extent of illustrated manuscript patronage, especially in the context of vernacularization. The first chapter briefly surveys the historical background in which the illustrated manuscripts were commissioned and texts in vernacular Turkish were produced, and how the practices of fortunetelling evolved into bibliomantic traditions, after which they became widespread. The second chapter focuses on the characteristics of the Falname (no.5179), in order to discuss the content of the text and how it was utilized. The last chapter of this thesis elaborates on the issue of patronage by analyzing two major components, the text and the illustrations, in order to contribute to redating and recontextualizing Falname (no.5179).