Name of Object:Süleymaniye waterway map Location:Sultanahmet, Istanbul, Turkey Holding Museum:Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts About Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts, Sultanahmet Date of Object:Hegira second half of the 12th century / AD 18th century Museum Inventory Number:3337 Material(s) / Technique(s):Paper, ink, coloured paints. Dimensions:Length 2572 cm, width 30 cm Period / Dynasty:Ottoman Provenance:Istanbul, Turkey. Description:The Süleymaniye waterway map is handmade on unfinished paper. The waterway was designed to supply water to the entire complex of the mosque, including its imaret (soup-kitchen), maristan (hospital), maktab (school) and public fountains. Fed by the Aypah (Kirazlı) and çınar springs, the highest-capacity branches of the Halkalı water supply system, this waterway supplied the Süleymaniye Complex as well as 80 other points in Istanbul. The map shows the waterway in detail from its source all the way to its end, including the places where it is joined by other waterways, the points where it enters the city through the walls, and especially the water-distribution centres and aqueducts. View Short DescriptionIstanbul has always suffered from water shortage due to a lack of sufficient springs nearby and its demand was met by conveying water via aqueducts from afar. Waterway maps provide information about the routes from the springs to the city, monuments on the way and the social structure of the city. How date and origin were established:Although the map does not have a date it is clear from the names of people and structures therein that this is an 18th-century document. For example, it is known that water was supplied to Taygun Palace in 1161 / 1748, a building shown on this map; therefore, this map must have been prepared after 1161 / 1748. How Object was obtained:The map was transferred to the museum in 1923 from the Directorate of Supplies for Pious Foundations. How provenance was established:The map does not bear any date. However, that our copy is an 18th copy is clear from the names of people and structures given therein. For example, it is known that water was supplied to Taygun Palace in 1161 / 1748, a building shown on our map; therefore, this map must have been prepared after 1161 / 1748. Public services such as the water supply were under the supervision of the state and due to this fact the waterway would have been designed and constructed by the official architects of the Topkapı Palace. Selected bibliography:Aksoy, Ş., “İstanbul'un Suyolları (Waterways of Istanbul)”, P Dergisi (P Magazine), 22 (Summer 2001), pp.17–29. Citation of this web page:Şule Aksoy "Süleymaniye waterway map" in Discover Islamic Art, Museum With No Frontiers, 2024. https://islamicart.museumwnf.org/database_item.php?id=object;ISL;tr;Mus01;46;en Prepared by: Şule Aksoy
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