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.

The map was prepared without a scale and has a schematic style. Therefore, many structures and neighbourhoods cannot be precisely placed. At the far end of the map there is the drawing of the Süleymaniye Complex.

Such waterway maps tell the story of water from springs being conveyed via pipes, crossing valleys in aqueducts, its pressure adjusted at certain points, being sent off in various directions at distribution centres and reaching public fountains. These maps also provide information about the urban structure; how people lived, and the infrastructure and buildings in a given quarter. For example, the Roman Aqueduct of Valens (AD 375), known as Bozdoğan Aqueduct in Turkish is introduced as 'the big aqueduct in the Horse Market'. The names of the people and the structures receiving water from this aqueduct are also given. The water of the Halkalı network could be distributed to private estates only on the written permission of the sultan. For instance, we find the house of Süleyman the Magnificent's dentist, Moshe Hamon, (AH 899–962 / AD 1490–1554) listed as 'House of Hamudoğlu'.

From the Süleymaniye Complex waterway map, we learn not only how the water was brought to the city but also about the quarters where the courtiers and dignitaries resided. Therefore, the waterway maps are important for describing the social topography of the city.

View Short Description

Istanbul 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.

çeçen, K., Süleymaniye Suyolları (Süleymaniye Waterways), Istanbul, 1986.

çeçen, K., Halkalı Suları (Halkalı Water Supply System), Istanbul, 1991.

Yerasimos, S., Soliman le Magnifique, Paris, 1999, cat. no. 323.

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
Translation by: Barry Wood, İnci Türkoğlu
Translation copyedited by: Mandi Gomez


MWNF Working Number: TR 75