DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.24719#0271
198
TREBIZOND.
Another mosque, called lmaret Djamisi, is situated in the west side ; it comprehends a
medrece, or school, and a kitchen for the poor. Beneath its dome are deposited the remains
of the mother of Selim I, The eastern suburb is now the active commercial quarter. The houses
here are generally surrounded by gardens, and the street of the Bazaars is planted with trees.
Here are situated the houses of the consuls, the quarantine establishment, and the Custom-house.
Upon a rocky eminence near the landing-place are the ruins of the extensive palace, called the
Guzel Serai. The inhabitants state that this building was erected in 1740, by Aclimet Oglou
Pasha, in the reign of Mahmoud I. Through an intrigue, common at that period, the enemies
of the pasha denounced the erection of this edifice to the Porte, as an attempt at independence :
a Capidji bashi, or executioner, was immediately despatched to put the rebel pasha to death, and
to burn his palace. Since that time it has never been repaired. The palace also suffered during
the bombardment of Trebizond by the Russian fleet in 1807. Vessels are generally moored at
the foot of the rock on the east side. The landing-place here bears the name of Maloz Islcelesi.
Near it may be seen, under the water, large blocks of stone, which appear to be the remains
of the Mole of Hadrian.
An edifice with two domes, seen from this point in the distance, is the Armenian church,
which the inhabitants say is the tomb of Prince David. History, however, does not state
that his remains were transported to Trebizond.
The population of this ancient capital is now composed of the inhabitants of various
countries, who follow different pursuits. The rich Turks chiefly hold official appointments;
the Armenians are for the most part bankers and merchants. Most of the branches of
industry are in the hands of the Greeks. The Lazes and natives of the country are sailors
and fishermen.
THE BYZANTINE BUILDINGS OF TREBIZOND.
TTTHEN the Turks had taken possession of the town, most of the public buildings not
’ ’ devoted to ecclesiastical purposes were distributed amongst the principal chiefs.
The imperial palace became the residence of the governor; but in consequence of successive
alterations and additions, there is little of the original work to be seen in the present day.
The churches which had been dedicated to the Mahometan worship, have, on the contrary,
been carefully preserved, and are now in a satisfactory state of repair. Those churches were
for the most part erected by the Emperor Alexis III. (whose religious zeal led him to build
many churches and monasteries in his capital and its vicinity), and are therefore works of
the middle of the 14th century. They are interesting, as exhibiting the transformation that
ecclesiastical architecture had undergone since the time of Justinian. The principal divisions
of the ancient church are maintained in their integrity; the ritual itself had not been altered:
we find the narthex and exd-narthex ; but the nave is longer, and the whole plan resembles
that of the Latin church. The central dome still remains the distinguishing characteristic.
THE CHURCH OE THE GOLDEN-HEADED VIRGIN
( n A N A r I A XPTSOKE^AAOS).
The singular name of this church is derived, no doubt, from a representation of the
Virgin with golden ornaments on her head. We know that the Byzantines never admitted
figures sculptui’ed in the round into their churches; but their altars are ornamented with
pictures of the Virgin, the face only of which is painted; the drapery being represented
by plates of gold or silver, embossed with repoussee work.
We see in the plan of the church certain principles of the school of Constantinople,
TREBIZOND.
Another mosque, called lmaret Djamisi, is situated in the west side ; it comprehends a
medrece, or school, and a kitchen for the poor. Beneath its dome are deposited the remains
of the mother of Selim I, The eastern suburb is now the active commercial quarter. The houses
here are generally surrounded by gardens, and the street of the Bazaars is planted with trees.
Here are situated the houses of the consuls, the quarantine establishment, and the Custom-house.
Upon a rocky eminence near the landing-place are the ruins of the extensive palace, called the
Guzel Serai. The inhabitants state that this building was erected in 1740, by Aclimet Oglou
Pasha, in the reign of Mahmoud I. Through an intrigue, common at that period, the enemies
of the pasha denounced the erection of this edifice to the Porte, as an attempt at independence :
a Capidji bashi, or executioner, was immediately despatched to put the rebel pasha to death, and
to burn his palace. Since that time it has never been repaired. The palace also suffered during
the bombardment of Trebizond by the Russian fleet in 1807. Vessels are generally moored at
the foot of the rock on the east side. The landing-place here bears the name of Maloz Islcelesi.
Near it may be seen, under the water, large blocks of stone, which appear to be the remains
of the Mole of Hadrian.
An edifice with two domes, seen from this point in the distance, is the Armenian church,
which the inhabitants say is the tomb of Prince David. History, however, does not state
that his remains were transported to Trebizond.
The population of this ancient capital is now composed of the inhabitants of various
countries, who follow different pursuits. The rich Turks chiefly hold official appointments;
the Armenians are for the most part bankers and merchants. Most of the branches of
industry are in the hands of the Greeks. The Lazes and natives of the country are sailors
and fishermen.
THE BYZANTINE BUILDINGS OF TREBIZOND.
TTTHEN the Turks had taken possession of the town, most of the public buildings not
’ ’ devoted to ecclesiastical purposes were distributed amongst the principal chiefs.
The imperial palace became the residence of the governor; but in consequence of successive
alterations and additions, there is little of the original work to be seen in the present day.
The churches which had been dedicated to the Mahometan worship, have, on the contrary,
been carefully preserved, and are now in a satisfactory state of repair. Those churches were
for the most part erected by the Emperor Alexis III. (whose religious zeal led him to build
many churches and monasteries in his capital and its vicinity), and are therefore works of
the middle of the 14th century. They are interesting, as exhibiting the transformation that
ecclesiastical architecture had undergone since the time of Justinian. The principal divisions
of the ancient church are maintained in their integrity; the ritual itself had not been altered:
we find the narthex and exd-narthex ; but the nave is longer, and the whole plan resembles
that of the Latin church. The central dome still remains the distinguishing characteristic.
THE CHURCH OE THE GOLDEN-HEADED VIRGIN
( n A N A r I A XPTSOKE^AAOS).
The singular name of this church is derived, no doubt, from a representation of the
Virgin with golden ornaments on her head. We know that the Byzantines never admitted
figures sculptui’ed in the round into their churches; but their altars are ornamented with
pictures of the Virgin, the face only of which is painted; the drapery being represented
by plates of gold or silver, embossed with repoussee work.
We see in the plan of the church certain principles of the school of Constantinople,