After its rediscovery in 1962, the monastery and its frescoes were restored by a team of archaeologists led by Michael Gough.[2] It was declared a protected archaeological site in 1973.[3]
The history of the settlement. The monastery and the underground settlement were built in the 10th century away from the major settlements; At that time it was called "Traicas".[4]
Descriptionedit
The monastery is carved out of a large stretch of rock and is one of the best preserved and largest of its kind in the Cappadocia region.[5] Scholars divide Cappadocia's many rock-cut monasteries into two main types: those with dining halls and those with open courtyards. The Eski Gümüşler Monastery falls into the second group, with its different sections opening off a central courtyard. Its most important part is the church to the north of the courtyard. The church comprises four freestanding closed aisles based on the Greek cross plan. The northern aisle contains a niche with two tombs. To the west there are two entrances covered with a cradle vault.[6]
Three different masters are assumed to have worked on the church frescoes. The main apse contains three bands of paintings: the highest shows Christ Enthroned with two angels to his right; the symbols of the gospel writers; and the Deisis with Mary and the disciples. The lowest band shows the Cappadocian Fathers of the church: St Basil the Great of Kayseri, Gregory of Nysa, and Gregory of Nazianzus.
In the north arm of the cross are representations of the Annunciation, the Nativity and the Presentation in the Temple with the figures of St John the Baptist and Saint Stephen which must have been painted by a second artist. On the inside of the narthex to the south of the entrance door are representations of the Virgin Mary and baby Jesus with, on either side of them, the archangels Gabriel and Michael, apparently painted by a third artist.
Much attention has been paid to a fresco of the Virgin Mary who appears to be smiling. However, this is almost certainly the result of careless restoration. [7]
The walls of the room above the narthex are painted with what appear to be images from Aesop's Fables - uniquely for Cappadocia.
The style and iconography of the frescoes of the Eski Gümüşler Monastery resemble those in many other Cappadocian churches. The frescoes are believed to date from the 7th to 11th centuries.
The Byzantine scholar Robert Ousterhout has suggested that Eskı Gümüşler may not, in fact, be a monastic site but the home of a nobleman with a private chapel. The frescoes from Aesop's Fables make more sense in this interpretation. [8]
Galleryedit
Niğde Gümüşler Monastery Courtyard
Niğde Gümüşler Monastery Narthex view to church
Gümüşler Monastery Main apse
Niğde Gümüşler Monastery Main apse Christ enthroned
Niğde Gümüşler Monastery Main apse with symbols of Gospel writers
Gümüşler Monastery Main apse Disciples
Niğde Gümüşler Monastery Church father
Niğde Gümüşler Monastery North aisle
Niğde Gümüşler Monastery North aisle Annunciation
Niğde Gümüşler Monastery North aisle Nativity
Niğde Gümüşler Monastery North aisle Presentation in temple
Niğde Gümüşler Monastery Room right of courtyard
Niğde Gümüşler Monastery Underground area
"Smiling" Three-handed Virgin Mary with Christ, the left side apse
^Borges, Jason (2018-12-07). "Eski Gumus (Niğde)". Cappadocia History. Retrieved 2022-09-29.
December 02, 2023
gümüşler, monastery, eski, gümüşler, silver, monastery, byzantine, cave, monastery, small, town, gümüşler, 10km, northeast, niğde, town, niğde, province, turkey, easily, accessible, from, niğde, eski, gumusler, monastery, courtyardsitelocationniğde, province, . Eski Gumusler Old Silver Monastery is a Byzantine era cave monastery in the small town of Gumusler 10km northeast of Nigde town in Nigde province Turkey It is easily accessible by bus from Nigde 1 Eski Gumusler MonasteryGumusler Monastery CourtyardSiteLocationNigde Province TurkeyCoordinates37 59 48 N 34 46 16 E 37 996656 N 34 771210 E 37 996656 34 771210Public accessPublic access all year roundAfter its rediscovery in 1962 the monastery and its frescoes were restored by a team of archaeologists led by Michael Gough 2 It was declared a protected archaeological site in 1973 3 Contents 1 History 2 Description 3 Gallery 4 ReferencesHistory editThe history of the settlement The monastery and the underground settlement were built in the 10th century away from the major settlements At that time it was called Traicas 4 Description editThe monastery is carved out of a large stretch of rock and is one of the best preserved and largest of its kind in the Cappadocia region 5 Scholars divide Cappadocia s many rock cut monasteries into two main types those with dining halls and those with open courtyards The Eski Gumusler Monastery falls into the second group with its different sections opening off a central courtyard Its most important part is the church to the north of the courtyard The church comprises four freestanding closed aisles based on the Greek cross plan The northern aisle contains a niche with two tombs To the west there are two entrances covered with a cradle vault 6 Three different masters are assumed to have worked on the church frescoes The main apse contains three bands of paintings the highest shows Christ Enthroned with two angels to his right the symbols of the gospel writers and the Deisis with Mary and the disciples The lowest band shows the Cappadocian Fathers of the church St Basil the Great of Kayseri Gregory of Nysa and Gregory of Nazianzus In the north arm of the cross are representations of the Annunciation the Nativity and the Presentation in the Temple with the figures of St John the Baptist and Saint Stephen which must have been painted by a second artist On the inside of the narthex to the south of the entrance door are representations of the Virgin Mary and baby Jesus with on either side of them the archangels Gabriel and Michael apparently painted by a third artist Much attention has been paid to a fresco of the Virgin Mary who appears to be smiling However this is almost certainly the result of careless restoration 7 The walls of the room above the narthex are painted with what appear to be images from Aesop s Fables uniquely for Cappadocia The style and iconography of the frescoes of the Eski Gumusler Monastery resemble those in many other Cappadocian churches The frescoes are believed to date from the 7th to 11th centuries The Byzantine scholar Robert Ousterhout has suggested that Eski Gumusler may not in fact be a monastic site but the home of a nobleman with a private chapel The frescoes from Aesop s Fables make more sense in this interpretation 8 Gallery edit nbsp Nigde Gumusler Monastery Courtyard nbsp Nigde Gumusler Monastery Narthex view to church nbsp Gumusler Monastery Main apse nbsp Nigde Gumusler Monastery Main apse Christ enthroned nbsp Nigde Gumusler Monastery Main apse with symbols of Gospel writers nbsp Gumusler Monastery Main apse Disciples nbsp Nigde Gumusler Monastery Church father nbsp Nigde Gumusler Monastery North aisle nbsp Nigde Gumusler Monastery North aisle Annunciation nbsp Nigde Gumusler Monastery North aisle Nativity nbsp Nigde Gumusler Monastery North aisle Presentation in temple nbsp Nigde Gumusler Monastery Room right of courtyard nbsp Nigde Gumusler Monastery Underground area nbsp Smiling Three handed Virgin Mary with Christ the left side apseReferences edit ESKI GUMUSLER GUMUSLER ESKI GUMUS www turkeyfromtheinside com Retrieved 2022 09 29 Eski Gumus Monastery Restoration Research at the BIAA BIAA biaa ac uk Retrieved 2020 05 08 Nigde Tyana and Gumusler Monastery in Cappadocia Turkey Turkey Cultural Tour www turkeyculturaltour com Retrieved 2020 05 08 Tulay OCAL NIGDE GUMUSLER MANASTIRI VE TURIZM POTANSIYELI in Turkish Retrieved 2023 04 01 Smiling Virgin Mary welcomes visitors in Nigde Hurriyet Daily News Retrieved 2020 05 08 Eski Gumusler Cave Monastery near Nigde Turkey Nomadic Niko 2012 06 24 Retrieved 2020 05 08 Smiling Virgin Mary welcomes visitors in Nigde Hurriyet Daily News Retrieved 2022 09 29 Borges Jason 2018 12 07 Eski Gumus Nigde Cappadocia History Retrieved 2022 09 29 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Gumusler Monastery amp oldid 1147664729, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
