DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.24719#0230
THE BATHS OF MAHOMET II.
1G1
or caldarium. In the hot chamber there were various closets for those who wished for intense
heat.
There does not exist now in Constantinople a single edifice of this description the erection
of which dates from the time of the Byzantine emperors. The Patriarch who occupied the see
of Constantinople in 1883, wrote a hook, under the title of IvanarTavTiviOLs irodhaia. xoli vecoripa,
yjToi irspiypixfyr) Kcova-TavTivouTTotecug} According to this author, the Baths of Mahomet II. were
constructed on the plan and from the ruins of the baths of Constantine. “ There no longer
remain,” says he, “ any of the ancient baths, except those of the great Constantine, called now
Tclioucour TIammam.”
Mahomet II., when building his mosque and the neighbouring khans, took the finest
marbles of ancient edifices, and especially those of the celebrated baths of Xeuxippe. Most of the
present Turkish baths are built on the foundations of ancient baths, and their arrangements are
in all points similar to what we suppose to be, from ruins and the descriptions of authors,
especially Vitruvius, those of the Roman baths. Thus it is very interesting to follow the
description of a Latin writer with the plan of a Turkish hath before us. The details, which
appear obscure or incomprehensible, are at once cleared up, and all the uncertainties of com-
mentators are dispelled before the actual facts.
THE BATHS OE MAHOMET II.
(now called Tchoucour Hamm ami).
Tiie Sultan Mahomet II., not content with having consecrated the church of St. Sophia
to the worship of Islam, wished also to sgnalize his reign hy the construction of another
temple not less magnificent. Justinian had surpassed Solomon; Mahomet wished to surpass
Justinian ; and the construction of a grand mosque was decided upon ; hut the finest situations
of the city were already occupied by churches; it was therefore resolved to pull down the
church of the Holy Apostles, which was situated on the culminating point of the hills, and was
already very much damaged by earthquakes.
Many workmen were collected to level the ground; and in order that they should he
comfortable, the Sultan caused a building to be erected for their residence, and also a bath,
which bore the name “ Ergad Hammamis,” or the Baths of the Workmen. This being found
insufficient, he enlarged a Greek bath, which was called Asat, and gave it'up to them.
Every mosque had in its neighbourhood a hath for the use of. the worshippers. Mahomet II.
was, above all things, desirous that the magnificent mosque that he built should surpass all that
his predecessors had done before in other towns.
The environs of the mosque were adorned with fine buildings; such as an hospital for the
poor (mearet) ; a school for superior instruction (medrece), and a vast bath, which remains as
a specimen of the best Turkish building of this description. It was constructed on the site of
the Cisterns of Arcadius, and as it was necessary to raise considerable substructions, it was
known in the town under the name of the Deep Bath (Tchoucour Hammam).
All the edifices of Mahomet II. were terminated about A.D. 14G9 (874 of the Hegira).
In the following century, in the year 1592, under the reign of the Sultan Mourad III., an
earthquake split several of the domes of the mosque and of the neighbouring buildings.
Shocks of the earthquake continued for several days.
The mosque lasted, nevertheless, for a century and a half, till, in the year 1703 (1177
of the Hegira), during the reign of the Sultan Mustapha III., an earthquake, more terrible
than the preceding one, completely overthrew the mosque of Mahomet II., ruined the medrece,
the bath, and the hospital.
The mosque was repaired by the care of the successors of Mahomet II., hut it does not
present now the original character of Turco - Byzantine architecture that was given it by its
author, the architect Christodoulus. The bastard Italian style of the 18th century had been
introduced at Constantinople, and was applied in the restoration of the mosque. 1 2
1 Ancient and Modern Constantinople, or an Accurate Description of Constantinople.
2 T
1G1
or caldarium. In the hot chamber there were various closets for those who wished for intense
heat.
There does not exist now in Constantinople a single edifice of this description the erection
of which dates from the time of the Byzantine emperors. The Patriarch who occupied the see
of Constantinople in 1883, wrote a hook, under the title of IvanarTavTiviOLs irodhaia. xoli vecoripa,
yjToi irspiypixfyr) Kcova-TavTivouTTotecug} According to this author, the Baths of Mahomet II. were
constructed on the plan and from the ruins of the baths of Constantine. “ There no longer
remain,” says he, “ any of the ancient baths, except those of the great Constantine, called now
Tclioucour TIammam.”
Mahomet II., when building his mosque and the neighbouring khans, took the finest
marbles of ancient edifices, and especially those of the celebrated baths of Xeuxippe. Most of the
present Turkish baths are built on the foundations of ancient baths, and their arrangements are
in all points similar to what we suppose to be, from ruins and the descriptions of authors,
especially Vitruvius, those of the Roman baths. Thus it is very interesting to follow the
description of a Latin writer with the plan of a Turkish hath before us. The details, which
appear obscure or incomprehensible, are at once cleared up, and all the uncertainties of com-
mentators are dispelled before the actual facts.
THE BATHS OE MAHOMET II.
(now called Tchoucour Hamm ami).
Tiie Sultan Mahomet II., not content with having consecrated the church of St. Sophia
to the worship of Islam, wished also to sgnalize his reign hy the construction of another
temple not less magnificent. Justinian had surpassed Solomon; Mahomet wished to surpass
Justinian ; and the construction of a grand mosque was decided upon ; hut the finest situations
of the city were already occupied by churches; it was therefore resolved to pull down the
church of the Holy Apostles, which was situated on the culminating point of the hills, and was
already very much damaged by earthquakes.
Many workmen were collected to level the ground; and in order that they should he
comfortable, the Sultan caused a building to be erected for their residence, and also a bath,
which bore the name “ Ergad Hammamis,” or the Baths of the Workmen. This being found
insufficient, he enlarged a Greek bath, which was called Asat, and gave it'up to them.
Every mosque had in its neighbourhood a hath for the use of. the worshippers. Mahomet II.
was, above all things, desirous that the magnificent mosque that he built should surpass all that
his predecessors had done before in other towns.
The environs of the mosque were adorned with fine buildings; such as an hospital for the
poor (mearet) ; a school for superior instruction (medrece), and a vast bath, which remains as
a specimen of the best Turkish building of this description. It was constructed on the site of
the Cisterns of Arcadius, and as it was necessary to raise considerable substructions, it was
known in the town under the name of the Deep Bath (Tchoucour Hammam).
All the edifices of Mahomet II. were terminated about A.D. 14G9 (874 of the Hegira).
In the following century, in the year 1592, under the reign of the Sultan Mourad III., an
earthquake split several of the domes of the mosque and of the neighbouring buildings.
Shocks of the earthquake continued for several days.
The mosque lasted, nevertheless, for a century and a half, till, in the year 1703 (1177
of the Hegira), during the reign of the Sultan Mustapha III., an earthquake, more terrible
than the preceding one, completely overthrew the mosque of Mahomet II., ruined the medrece,
the bath, and the hospital.
The mosque was repaired by the care of the successors of Mahomet II., hut it does not
present now the original character of Turco - Byzantine architecture that was given it by its
author, the architect Christodoulus. The bastard Italian style of the 18th century had been
introduced at Constantinople, and was applied in the restoration of the mosque. 1 2
1 Ancient and Modern Constantinople, or an Accurate Description of Constantinople.
2 T