On Friday, May 2, 2025, the Art History Club of Karabük University Faculty of Letters hosted a significant academic event focusing on Turkish art history. Prof. Dr. Yaşar ÇORUHLU, retired faculty member of the Department of Art History at Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University, delivered a lecture titled “Göktürk (Kök Türk) Ancestral Temples”.
Held in the Faculty of Letters Conference Hall, the event attracted considerable attention from students, academics, and those interested in the cultural heritage of the Turkic world.
In his presentation, Prof. Dr. Çoruhlu provided an in-depth analysis of the architectural forms, spatial planning, symbolic elements, and religious-cultural significance of the ancestral temples built during the Göktürk period. He emphasized that these structures served not only religious functions within the context of the Gök Tanrı (Sky God) belief system, but also played important political and social roles. By integrating archaeological evidence, epigraphic sources, and art historical interpretations, the lecture offered an interdisciplinary perspective on the topic. Throughout the conference, Prof. Dr. Çoruhlu also addressed topics such as funerary architecture of the Göktürk era, the concept of sacred space, the references to temples in the Orkhon Inscriptions, and the interaction between Göktürk structures and those of other Central Asian cultures. Following the presentation, a vibrant Q&A session allowed participants to engage directly with the speaker.
At the conclusion of the event, Prof. Dr. Anar AZİZSOY, Chair of the Department of Art History at Karabük University, presented a plaque of appreciation to Prof. Dr. Yaşar Çoruhlu, expressing gratitude for his valuable contributions to the field of Turkish art history. In his brief remarks, Prof. Dr. Azizsoy highlighted the importance of such scholarly encounters for inspiring students and enriching the university’s intellectual environment.
This meaningful conference made a significant contribution to ongoing discussions of Turkish cultural heritage and art history at Karabük University. The event concluded with group photographs taken to commemorate the occasion.
