Lapis Lazuli Tablets

After the works of Joyce, Queneau and Carroll, which he brought to Turkish with great competence, Armagan Ekici this time attempts to read the world in his own way. As a traveller, bookworm and music lover, he rediscovers the disappearing magic of the world in his journeys in his personal atlas from antiquity to the 21st century, tracing surprising connections by wandering between times and places.

"According to the legend, Zeus flew an eagle from each end of the world to find the middle of the world, and the eagles met in Delphi. The ancient Greeks considered Delphi "omphalos", the navel of the world, and Greek colonies spread from Spain to Georgia. They met at ceremonies and altars. The serpentine, twisted column, which was later erected in Delphi to commemorate a common victory of the Greek cities against the Persians, was brought to Istanbul, perhaps implying that the "center of the world" moved to Istanbul with the establishment of Constantinople. Of course, they also have personal "omphalos". When I started walking randomly in the cities where I lived and visited frequently, the "underbelly points" I found were always around bookstores: Dost's first, small shop in Istanbul, where I spent my childhood and youth; "Robinson Crusoe 389 and Pandora; Spui square in Amsterdam, especially the second-hand book market held on Fridays and the Athenaeum in this square; La Hune in Paris; Tropismes in Brussels..." Armagan Ekici weaves together the cultural "omphalos" we need as the center of the world changes constantly. His perspective is both fresh and wise.
(From the Promotional Bulletin)



Number of Pages: 285

Year of Printing: 2016


Language: Turkish
Publisher: Everest Publications

Prepared by: Didem Nur Güngören
Cover Design: Beste Dogan

First Print Year: 2016

Number of Pages: 285

Language Turkish