Page 258 - NP Zbornik 46_DRUGO REVIDIRANO IZDANJE

258 Mensur Zukorlić, Osmansko nasljeđe u Nišu...

Mensur Zukorlic
National Library “Dositej Obradovic”, Novi Pazar

THE OTTOMAN HERITAGE IN NIS: SACRAL
STRUCTURES AND TODAY’S BELIEVERS

Abstract: The topic of this paper is a thematic analyze of the available historical
sources, authentic material and spiritual traces of the culture of the Orient, in the
area of Nis, whose existence confirm our empirical researches in the field. The
backbone of the topic makes the Oriental culture, being traditionally developed in
our areas and whose elements and religion influenced onto the population of Nis,
and even a wider one. The authentic artifact of the mentioned, Oriental-Islamic
cultures is recognizable in the material and non-material heritage, of different
forms of the Muslim heritage, and also of the cultural tradition. With the arrival
of the Ottomans into these areas of Balkan, Nis becomes a part of a great and very
strong center, and at the same time, a new culture is spread under the influence,
i.e. Oriental-Islamic one. Islam is also spread. The changes under the influence
of the Oriental-Islamic culture are brought to Architecture, either, the breakthro-
ugh of the Arabic, Turkish and Persian language. The Oriental influence is felt
in forming of the city, city neighborhoods, clothing, making of decorative items,
tombstones nishan, manuscripts and different craft items and similar. Thus, Nis at
the period, passed through huge cultural changes.
Key word: Ottoman heritage in Serbia, Niš, Islam-aga mosque, Bali-bey