Ahmed Karahisari: The Sun of Calligraphy Ahmed Şemseddîn Karahisârî (1468–1566), often referred to as Karahisari, stands as one of the titans of Ottoman calligraphy—a figure whose influence reverberates through centuries of Islamic art and scholarship. Born in Afyonkarahisar, Turkey, his exact birthdate remains elusive, shrouded in the mists of Ottoman archival records. Yet, what is undeniably certain is that he ascended to unparalleled renown during the reign of Sultan Suleyman I (1520–1566), earning the moniker *Shams al-Khatt*, “The Sun of Calligraphy,” a testament to his mastery and tran…