KULTURK

Abstract

Anthologies of a personal nature may contain various pieces of information as well as literary works that are not found in divans or that exist in no other known copies. The manuscript catalogued as Ms. or. oct. 3744 in the Berlin State Library, within the Prussian Cultural Heritage Collection, includes the only extant copy of Kansu Gavri’s Turkish Divan, alongside other unique texts. The poems contained in the anthology are attributed to various poets active between the 14th and 16th centuries. The manuscript also functions as a compilation of works by poets affiliated with the courtly milieu. The poets represented in the collection are predominantly those who were associated with the court. Based on the nature of the texts included, it may be inferred that the scribe possessed a certain level of literary knowledge and aesthetic discernment. In addition to its primarily poetic content, the anthology also contains a prose treatise on music. Notably, the manuscript includes a poem by Ahmedî that does not appear in previously published editions of his Divan. This article introduces the anthology, discusses its significance and contribution to Turkish literature, refers to prior studies on the manuscript, and finally, classifies its contents according to the MESTAP system. In doing so, the entire content of this largely published anthology has been brought to light.