Abstract
THE MUAMMAS OF ARIF EFENDI
Muammâ is the art of hiding a name within a verse using various techniques and later revealing it. Although written as a riddle, muammâ has a poetic character due to its meter and rhyme. Examples of muammâ have appeared in classical Turkish poetry since the 13th century. Despite occasional decline, it remained popular until the transition from the Arabic to the Latin alphabet.
The first examples of muammâ emerged in Arabic literature, but it developed further in Persian literature with new rules and was presented as an intellectual gift to rulers. In Turkish literature, it reached its peak in the 16th century. One notable muammâ poet of this period was Ârifî.
A total of 132 muammâ attributed to Ârifî are found in manuscripts Ms. Or. Oct. 3420, Ms. Or. Oct. 2130, and TY 794. Two poets named Ârifî lived in the 16th century, both excelling in muammâ. This study examines the 132 muammâ in Muammâ Mecmuası (Ms. Or. Oct. 3420), comparing different copies and providing a transcription with a critical edition and intralingual translation.
Keywords
16th century, Ottoman literature, muammâ, Ârifî, muammâ collection.