WELCOME TO MY EDIRNE HOMEPAGE

A picture of Edirne (Black and White)

My home town is EDIRNE. Although I have not spent much time there I still love it. The poet, Niyazi Akincioglu says below for EDIRNE.

                If somewhere you come upon
                Waters running in three courses
                Flowing slowly and graciously
                Glistening like three dark sables
                Kissing the willows bough by bough
                then good tidings, sir;
                        You are in Edirne
                The season in springtime;
                It is night and with full moon.
                And you,
                As if walking on a rainbow
                        are on the Bridges.

                                        Niyazi Akincioglu

Edirne is surrounded on three sides by the Meric river which flows around the city. It is joined by the Tunca river and flows to Eagean Sea by drawing Greece - Turkiye border. Edirne was the Ottoman Capital for several years and in the 1800's was one of the seven largest cities of Europe.

The first settlers in the plain were the Odris of the Trak tribes. Later the area passed into the hands of the Orests. In 124 A.D. It was named Hadrianopolis after the Roman Emperor Hadrian. The Ottomans captured the city from Byzantines in 1362 and it became the Ottoman capital three years later.

Edirne, as 100 year capital of the Ottoman Empire includes many historically and architecturally important buildings. The classical Ottoman style is also reflected in Edirne.

Especially Mimar Sinan , one of the best Ottoman architect, built his best structures there. Selimiye mosque is his masterpiece in Edirne. Its dome is larger than that of Hagia Sophia to show the technological abilities of the Ottoman archtitecture. He says about Selimiye Mosque:

"Four minarets were situated on the four sides of the dome. Built in olden days Uc Serefeli stands like castle; it is very coarse. But its minarets ,which are both elegant and triple-striped are recognized by any knowledgeable person , have been a very difficult task. One reason that people have said it is not possible on this earth, is that there are those of the Christian sect who pass as architects, declaring that there is no dome in the State of Islam like the dome of Hagia Sophia, they are superior to the Muslims. Their saying that it is difficult to keep such a dome standing has stuck like a great knot in the heart of this despised creature. In the aforementioned mosque, with the divine assistance of Sultan Selim Han, I displayed my skills and built theis dome six zira higher and four zira wider than that of Hagia Sophia."

Murat Cakan paint - Sarayici , Edirne

Beyazit Complex, with its mosque, darussifa (hospital), imaret (soup-kitchens), medrese (school), hamam (bath), mutfak (kitchens), mill, depots and its own bridge, is one of the largest in the Islamic World in that century.

Three major sections can be observed from south to north: the actual hospital space, the administrative quarters, and the large courthyard and service quarters adjacent to the medrese. The imaret of the complex distributed free meals daily to hundreds of people, to the poor and the needy, as well as to travellers and medrese student.

The post interesting institution in the complex was the darussufa ,as known hospital.For two centuries it remained as world-renowed center because of its clinic especially for eye diseases and the section for mental illnesses.

At a time when the mentally ill patients were considered to be allies of the devil and were burnt at the stake in Europe, in the Edirne darussifa they were treated with the sight and with the fragrance of flowers such as hyacinth, tulip, carnation, wallflower and jasmine. The mental patients were fed with partridges, pheasants, pidgeans, stockdove, duck and nightingale, depending upon the type of their illness, and the birds were cooked according to doctor's specifications.

Musical therapy for the patients was carried out by ten singers and musicians. Sound of flowing water from the foundations in the complex was another medicine for the mentaly ill patients.

Medical students of the medrese (school) received practical training at the hospital which employed the best doctors of the period.

There are nice pictures of Meric bridge painted by Murat Cakan.

When I find more information I will add immediately to my pages. Thanks.