Gakkos Flat Cap

Sekiz Köşe (Eight-Pointed Hat) is a cultural heritage hat from the Elazığ region. Each corner of the hat conveys a different meaning: reliable, courage, diligence, generosity, honesty, hospitality, modesty, and righteousness. The person wearing the cap is expected to embody all of these qualities. Another name for the hat, “Gakkoş Hat,” is derived from the regional word “Gakgoş,” widely used in the daily life of Elazığ people, meaning brotherhood.

It is believed that the eight-pointed hat, known as the “Sekiz Köşe,” derives from the motif of the eight-pointed star, also known as the Seljuk Star. This legend can be supported by the fact that Elazığ, the remaining city of the 4,000-year-old town of Harput, was once ruled by the Anatolian Seljuk Empire and that each corner of the Seljuk Star carries eight meanings: mercy, compassion, patience, honesty, confidentiality, loyalty, generosity, and gratitude.

These delicate hats are entirely handmade, and today there are only four master artisans remain who continue producing the Sekiz Köşe hats in Elazığ. Nevzat Yentür, who has been in this profession for 60 years, made these hats using the leftover fabrics of Aslı Filinta. It takes approximately 3 hours to produce a single cap. Sekiz Köşe hats hold a significant cultural value passed down through generations as a part of the local heritage.