Uploaded July 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
In this episode of Heritage Türkiye, we speak with Dr Hakan Tarhan about identity, memory, and the complexities of cultural heritage in the eastern Mediterranean. Drawing on his research in both Türkiye and Greece, Hakan explores how communities engage with Byzantine and Ottoman heritage, what he means by “the other's heritage”, and why the concept of dissonant heritage is central to understanding contested pasts. We discuss what it means to “live with Byzantium” in contemporary Türkiye, and the importance of community engagement in heritage practice. The conversation also reflects on Hakan’s current research and his vision for the future of cultural heritage at the BIAA, highlighting the role of dialogue in building more inclusive approaches to the past.
Resources:
- Hakan Tarhan, Public Perceptions of 'the Other's' Heritage: Ottoman Heritage in Greece and Byzantine Heritage in Turkey. PhD Thesis, IMT School for Advanced Studies Lucca, 2022.
- Hakan Tarhan, Yeşim Tonga Uriarte, Maria Luisa Catoni. Embodied Ideologies: Hagia Sophia contended status between mosque and museum, Studies on the Value of Cultural Heritage, 2022: (25), 519–539.
- Hakan Tarhan, Living at Byzantium: Local Perceptions Towards Remnants of a Dissonant Past in İznik and Trabzon, Türkiye. (Forthcoming)
In this episode of Heritage Türkiye, we speak with Dr Hakan Tarhan about identity, memory, and the complexities of cultural heritage in the eastern Mediterranean. Drawing on his research in both Türkiye and Greece, Hakan explores how communities engage with Byzantine and Ottoman heritage, what he means by “the other's heritage”, and why the concept of dissonant heritage is central to understanding contested pasts. We discuss what it means to “live with Byzantium” in contemporary Türkiye, and the importance of community engagement in heritage practice. The conversation also reflects on Hakan’s current research and his vision for the future of cultural heritage at the BIAA, highlighting the role of dialogue in building more inclusive approaches to the past.
Resources:
- Hakan Tarhan, Public Perceptions of 'the Other's' Heritage: Ottoman Heritage in Greece and Byzantine Heritage in Turkey. PhD Thesis, IMT School for Advanced Studies Lucca, 2022.
- Hakan Tarhan, Yeşim Tonga Uriarte, Maria Luisa Catoni. Embodied Ideologies: Hagia Sophia contended status between mosque and museum, Studies on the Value of Cultural Heritage, 2022: (25), 519–539.
- Hakan Tarhan, Living at Byzantium: Local Perceptions Towards Remnants of a Dissonant Past in İznik and Trabzon, Türkiye. (Forthcoming)
