An Evaluation of the Tomb and Sebil of Benlizâde Ahmet Reşîd Efendi in Light of Archival Records and Recent Restorations
Abstract
The aim of this study is to evaluate the architectural, decorative and urban characteristics of the surviving tomb and sebil units from the Benlizâde Ahmed Reşîd Efendi complex in the light of archival documents and restoration data. The research utilised documentary, descriptive and comparative methods to examine documents from the Ottoman Archives, including specific cibayet (revenue collection) registers and repair records dating back to the late 19th century. Analysis was conducted using historical photographs of the structure obtained from the Istanbul Archaeological Museums Council Archive, as well as pre- and post-restoration images and drawings.
The tomb and sebil belonging to Benlizâde Ahmed Reşîd Efendi, the 103rd Sheikh al-Islam of the Ottoman Empire, are situated in the Çarşamba neighbourhood of the Fatih district in Istanbul. Ahmed Reşîd Efendi, a prominent scholar who held various high-ranking judicial positions before serving as Sheikh al-Islam between 1822 and 1823, commissioned this madrasa-centered complex to contribute to the city’s water supply and the continuity of intellectual life. Although the exact construction date of the complex, also referred to as the “Benlizâde Madrasa” in archival documents, is unknown, it is likely to date from the late 18th to the early 19th century based on its architectural style and the context established by similar examples in the region. Archival findings reveal that the complex underwent significant repairs following the 1894 earthquake and earlier in 1892, ensuring the survival of its educational and public service units. Having remained in a state of disrepair for a long time during the 20th century, the structure was restored through a comprehensive restoration project carried out by the General Directorate of Foundations between 2020 and 2022, revealing many of its original architectural features.
As a result of this process, whilst the tomb exhibits a simple architectural style on the exterior characterised by alternating cut and rubble stone masonry, a square plan, and a single dome resting on an octagonal drum, the interior features Rococo-style dome decorations that stand out as a distinct decorative programme. These hand-drawn ornaments (kalemişi) display a rich colour palette of green, brown, and yellow tones, featuring acanthus leaves, oyster motifs, and marble imitations that reflect the Westernization trends in Ottoman art. Furthermore, the tomb houses three wooden sarcophagi, including one dedicated to Ahmed Reşîd Efendi, complete with a distinctive Sheikh al-Islam turban, which were meticulously restored to their original state. The sebil structure, meanwhile, exhibits the character of a functional public building in terms of its floor plan, water reservoir and window arrangement. Designed as a corner sebil with a mirror vault, it features an intricate interior water distribution system with marble fountains adorned with Rococo elements. Considered together, the tomb and sebil demonstrate how religious, social and public functions were brought together within a holistic spatial framework in late Ottoman architecture. This spatial unity symbolizes a multi-layered approach to charity and remembrance, combining the life-giving nature of water with the spiritual presence of the deceased.
The fact that the tomb and sebil, which reflect the characteristic features of late Ottoman architecture, have largely retained their originality and have not been previously examined in detail makes the structure significant from a research perspective. In this context, the Benlizâde Ahmed Reşîd Efendi Tomb and Sebil is a unique example that reflects the spatial manifestation of the Ottoman neighbourhood-centred Islamic urban model, and one that must be assessed in terms of its architectural features and within the historical urban fabric of the Çarşamba district where it is situated. In this respect, the structure serves as an important historical reference, comprehensively reflecting the social, cultural and religious structure of the period.
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Arşiv Kayıtları ve Son Dönem Onarımlar Işığında Benlizâde Ahmet Reşîd Efendi Türbe ve Sebili Hakkında Bir Değerlendirme
Abstract
Bu çalışmanın amacı, Benlizâde Ahmed Reşîd Efendi külliyesinden günümüze ulaşan türbe ve sebil birimlerinin mimari, süsleme ve kentsel bağlam içerisindeki yerini arşiv belgeleri ve restorasyon verileri ışığında değerlendirmektir. Araştırmada belgesel, betimsel ve karşılaştırmalı yöntemler kullanılarak Osmanlı Arşivi belgeleri incelenmiş, yapıya ait tarihî fotoğraflar, restorasyon öncesi ve sonrası görseller ile çizimler üzerinden analiz yapılmıştır. İstanbul Fatih’te Çarşamba semtinde yer alan Benlizâde Ahmed Reşîd Efendi Türbe ve Sebili, kesin inşa tarihi bilinmemekle birlikte mimari üslubu ve çevresindeki benzer örnekler doğrultusunda XVIII. yüzyıl sonları ile XIX. yüzyıl başlarına tarihlendirilmektedir. Uzun süre harap durumda kalan yapı, 2020–2022 yılları arasında Vakıflar Genel Müdürlüğü tarafından gerçekleştirilen kapsamlı restorasyonla onarılarak yapının özgün mimari özellikleri büyük ölçüde ortaya çıkarılmıştır. Restorasyon sürecinde türbenin sade dış mimarisi ve iç mekândaki Rokoko üsluplu kubbe süslemeleri belirginleşirken, sebilin plan şeması, su haznesi ve pencere düzeni kamusal işlevini ortaya koymaktadır. Bu bağlamda türbe ve sebil, geç dönem Osmanlı mimarisinde dinî, sosyal ve kamusal işlevlerin bütüncül bir mekânsal kurgu içinde birleştiğini göstermektedir. Geç dönem Osmanlı mimarisinin özelliklerini yansıtan türbe ve sebil, özgünlüğünü büyük ölçüde koruması ve yeterince incelenmemiş olması nedeniyle araştırma açısından önem taşımaktadır. Bu bağlamda Benlizâde Ahmed Reşîd Efendi Türbe ve Sebili, mimari özellikleri ve konumlandığı Çarşamba semtinin tarihi kentsel dokusu içerisinde değerlendirilmesi gereken, Osmanlı’nın mahalle merkezli İslam şehir modelinin mekânsal karşılığını yansıtan özgün örneklerden biridir. Bu yönüyle yapı, dönemin toplumsal, kültürel ve dini yapısını bütüncül biçimde yansıtan önemli bir tarihsel referans niteliği taşımaktadır.
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