Abstract:

Importance has always been attached to birds in every period of Turkish culture. During pre-Islamic periods, various meanings were attributed to birds in ritual sacrifices, the epics of creation and shamanic traditions. It is seen that bird descriptions were included in objects extracted from various castles. Along with the acceptance of Islam by Turkish people, the importance given to the birds continued incrementally, and this was also reflected in the sense of art. During Anatolian Seljuk and Beyliks period, various bird descriptions are seen on architectural works and small handicrafts. In the Ottoman period, birdhouses were added on various structures as a concrete indication of bird love. Birdhouses, which were very rarely seen in previous periods, became widespread in the Ottoman period and geography. The early examples of birdhouses emerged as simple hollows. During and after the 18th century, elegant examples began to be constructed with building-depicted facade designs. In particular, the birdhouses, the most remarkable examples of which are seen in Istanbul, the capital of the period, appear in different centers in Anatolia and the Balkans. Tokat is one of the cities where birdhouses are seen in Anatolia. In the city center, there are birdhouses in Ulu Camii (o.1678/79), Ali Paşa Camii (16.. yy), Ali Paşa Türbesi (16. yy), Ali Paşa Hamamı (16. yy), Sulu Han, Paşa Hanı (1752-53) and Zile Yeni Hamam (15-16. yy). Among the birdhouses in Tokat, the examples in Ulu Cami and Zile Yeni Hamam are remarkable with their sandstone-dressed building-depicted facades. Other examples in the city appear as a part of the

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