The Wajidiyye Madrasa of Kütahya, A Turkish Medicval Observatory

Year 1948, Volume: 12 Issue: 47, 667 - 678, 20.07.1948

Aydın Sayılı

Abstract

According to local tradition, the Wâjidiyya Madrasa (or Demir Kapı Medresesi ) of Kütahya, Turkey, was the scene of astronomical work and observation in old times. One old gentleman who was consulted on this matter said he has heard of the existence of an "observation well„ under the central dome, but he knew nothing else about it and 'was not willing to dwell upon this detail. People say they have heard that this madrasa was an observatory once, or that it had something to do with astronomy, but nobody seems to have any further detailed and clear information upon this matter. No one says it was a muwaqqiikhâna. As this building, which is supposed to have been the scene of astronomical activity, is a madrasa, the possibility of instruction in astronomy comes to mind, but there is no mention of astronomical instruction in the local tradition.

Keywords

Kütahya, Wâjidiyya Madrasa, Molla Fenârî, Ottomans