The Ottoman fountains of Istanbul At the head of a street in Cihangir is a small fountain. For years it was a decrepit, rundown, vine-clad ruin. Then one day there was a ribbon around it and workers busy cleaning it. Today it has returned to its original state although no water flows from it. It has a date of 1055 A.H. (1645-46) and the person who built it was named Ahmed Pasa. This must have been Tarhuncu Ahmed Pasa who served as a grand vizier under Sultan Mehmet IV. He is honored as a reformer for having done his best to put Ottoman finances on a better basis and his ability to “persuade” the wealthy to give up some properties and money they had taken illegally from the state. The repairs were carried out by the owner of a new apart-otel that was being constructed nearby out of an old apartment building and street front stores. Water is of particular importance in Islam because it was required that before prayers, one has to purify oneself. Moreover it isn’t just any water. It has to be running water. During Ottoman times, Istanbul was not blessed with a water system that delivered it right to your doorstep with the exception of the wealthiest people. The city does have quite a few underground springs and wells that are fed by rain water. The Ottomans took advantage of the aqueduct system that originated with the Romans and expanded it. Mimar Sinan is less well known for his contributions to the aqueduct system than he is for his magnificent mosques but he did much to repair and extend what was already in place in the 17th century. Well-to-do Muslims built structures as a way of giving alms or performing good deeds for society. As water plays such an important and symbolic role in Islam, many built fountains to provide running water to areas that had no water. Hence there is the small fountain on Kazanci Yokusu in Cihangir. Generally, a poetic inscription giving the date and name of the person who had commissioned the fountain is visible somewhere on it – usually above the faucet, honoring the benevolent patrons. It is possible that these fountains have been neglected because the inscriptions that occur on almost all fountains are in Ottoman script that only a very few people can read. Local life centered on the local fountains. Women would come to collect water for their houses but stay to chat with each other. Children would play around the fountain because it would usually be in a central place with a small open space around it. It would not be unusual for coffeehouses to be found nearby where men would spend their free time. Additionally it has been suggested that some roads and lanes are irregular because they represent shortcuts to water sources. A horse or donkey carrying a water keg didn’t need a wide boulevard any more than the men on motorcycles who deliver water to apartment buildings today. The imperial fountains The little fountain on Kazanci Yokusu, however, is nothing like the great imperial fountains in Istanbul on street corners or within mosque complexes. Istanbul’s imperial fountains reflect various periods but the one considered the most outstanding is that built by Sultan Ahmet III in 1728. This is the ruler during whose reign the famous Tulip Period (Lale Devri) occurred. The fountain is located between St. Sophia and the outer gate of Topkapi Palace. The square structure and its over-hanging roof and five small domes is considered a fine example of the very decorative style of ornamentation normally termed Turkish rococo. It is not known whether Turkish rococo was influenced by European rococo, a style that rose about the same time in Europe. Another is the fountain built by Sultan Mahmud I at Tophane in 1732. This is often described as baroque even though it is very similar in style to the earlier one constructed by Sultan Ahmet III. The designs include roses, flowers in vases and even fruit on plates compete with geometric designs and other still life forms. Similar motifs are found on tiles, metal objects and embroideries to mention just a few. When one looks at the Bezmialem Valide Sultan Cesmesi in Macka on Spor Caddesi, there’s considerable difference. This is a fountain built by the second wife of Sultan Mahmud II and mother of Sultan Abdulmecid in 1839. It is much simpler and although it has four sides, it is not heavily decorated the way the two previously discussed fountains are and it’s not clear whether it was from lack of funds or the need for extensive decorations had passed. Ottoman fountains today At the beginning of the 20th century, a total of 1,600 fountains were registered with the Pious Foundations Directorate but by 2000, only 400 remained. That’s a loss of approximately 12 fountains a year. Today restoration is going on. Both the metropolitan municipality and the local authorities are in the process of restoring the Ottoman fountains. Eyup Municipality has a number of such projects for restoring fountains within its boundaries. In Eyup the fountains present the most beautiful examples of Ottoman architecture, stone work, calligraphy and the decorative arts. The municipality has worked on nine fountains and one water tower. Sometimes corporations get involved in restoring historic fountains. For example, Cif, a Unilever product, was used in a project that helped with the cleaning of Topkapi Palace as well as the Kadin Efendi and Hekimoglu Ali Pasa Fountains. An advertising film was made about the work done on Topkapi Palace. Another source of assistance is non-governmental organizations such as CEKUL, the Foundation for the Promotion and Protection of the Environment and Cultural Heritage. The group is engaged in restoring a fountain at Eceabat in the Canakkale district. The government has become more involved over the years but the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, under which such repairs should occur, has only a very small budget allocation in general. Because Istanbul is the European Culture Capital for 2010, the metropolitan municipality has taken a greater interest in its Ottoman heritage. One can only hope that this interest continues after 2010. Fountain types in Istanbul: cesme, fiskiye, sebil, sadirvan, selale. Cesme: (Persian) A structure from which water is made to flow in an orderly way for everybody’s benefit. Fiskiye: (Arabic) The mouth of a pool that shoots water upward in various designs. Sebil: (Arabic, Road) It is said of places that always distribute drinking water in acceptance of God’s will. These places are usually found next to mosques and each has a distinctive style. Sadirvan: (Persian, Sad - much; irvan – it flows) A sadirvan is a pool into which abundant water splashes from a rather higher point or is a water reservoir that is surrounded by a wall that has faucets. They are usually found in mosque courtyards where they are used for ablutions before prayer service. They may be covered or open. Selale: (Arabic, Waterfall) In Ottoman times, it was often an artificial waterfall created to resemble those occurring naturally. Source : http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/ |
