Browsing by Author "Selcukoglu, Ahmet"

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Bloodless Executions in the Seljukid State Tradition: The Procedures and Principles of Choking With Bowstring and Drawing Iron Rod To Eyes
(Selcuk Univ, Fac Letters, 2025) Selcukoglu, Ahmet
In medieval sources, two popular liquidation methods are mentioned that were frequently applied by Turkish nations, especially in the context of sovereignty conflicts: Strangling with a bowstring and pulling a hot iron rod to the eyes. In the steppe law, the red lines regarding not shedding the blood of the dynasty members brought to the forefront alternative methods for dealing with the defeated opponent, and strangulation was used as a functional execution method because it achieved the goal without shedding blood. Although the strangling process is carried out with different tools and techniques, bows, one of the most important instruments of Turkish daily life, are the most frequently used tools for this purpose. Among the Turkish states, the Seljuks were one of the states that most frequently used the punishment of strangulation with a bowstring and carried this ancient steppe custom to distant areas of domination. However, after the Seljuks' interaction with Iran, Anatolia and the Islamic world, a different method of elimination began to become more popular and was frequently used in struggles for dominance. In this execution method, which is described in the sources as drawing an iron rod into the eyes, the aim was to heat a long stick called "mil" in the fire and hold it to the eyes from a certain distance, thus causing the victim to lose his ability to see. This article aims to examine the practices of strangulation with a bowstring and drawing a hot iron rod to the eyes, which are frequently mentioned as a type of bloodless execution in the sources, within the context of logic, method and technique within the framework of the Turkish steppe law and sovereignty concept using examples from the Seljuk period.
Superstitions, Perception of Luck and Bad Luck in Turkish-Mongolian Nations
(Osman Kose, 2026) Selcukoglu, Ahmet
Since ancient times, there have been beliefs in every society that doing or not doing something would bring good luck or bad luck. Although it varies according to the holiness perception of each society, it is believed that events related to water, fire, sky or natural events are the harbingers of good or evil, and indicate luck or danger. Similar superstitions also emerged among the Turkish-Mongolian nations who shared a common geography and a common memory. These habits, which attracted the attention of local/foreign travelers and authors of the period and came to the fore with their ritualistic meaning rather than their logical basis, acquired deep symbolic meanings in the steppe folk culture. This article will discuss superstitions that are generally nourished by Turkish-Mongolian Shamanism, believed to bring good luck or bad luck, and some of which have survived to the present day.