German Fountain
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The German Fountain (in Turkish Alman Çeşmesi) is a gazebo styled fountain in the northern end of old hippodrome (Sultanahmet Square), Istanbul, Turkey and across from the Mausoleum of Sultan Ahmed I. It was constructed to commemorate the second anniversary of German Emperor Wilhelm II's visit to Istanbul in 1898. It was built in Germany, then transported piece by piece and assembled in its current site in 1900. The neo-byzantine style fountain's octogonal dome has eight marble columns, and dome's interior is covered with golden mosaics.
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[edit] History
The idea of Great Palace of Constantinople's Empire Lodge (Kathisma) being on the site of the German Fountain's, conflicts with the view that Carceres Gates of Hippodrome was found on the site of the fountain however, the hypothesis of Carceres Gates being on the site enforces the view that Quadriga of Lysippos was used to stand on the site of the German Fountain.[1]
During his reign, German Emperor and King of Prussia Wilhelm II has visited several European countries, he also visited Eastern countries which started in Istanbul, Ottoman Empire on October 18, 1898 during Abdülhamid II's reign.[2] According to Peter Hopkirk, visit to Ottoman Empire was an ego trip and also have long-term motivations[2] The main motivation is for constructing Baghdad Railway which would run from Berlin to Persian Gulf, and would further connected to British India over Persia.[2] This railway could provide a short and quick route from Europe to Asia, and could carry German exports, troops and artillery.[3] At the time, Ottoman Empire could not afford such a railway, and Abdülhamid II was gratefull to Wilhelm's offer but Abdülhamid II was thinking what about what was the benefit for German Empire.[4] Abdülhamid II's secret service was thinking that German geologists was posing as archeologists and later they found a German report spoking about the oilfields in Mosul, northern Mesopotamia are richer than that in Caucaus.[4] In his first visit, II. Wilhelm secured sale of German made rifles to Ottoman Army, and in his second visit he got promise for German companies to construct Istanbul-Baghdad railway.[5] German Government has constructed The German Fountain for Wilhelm II and Empress Augusta's 1898 Istanbul visit.[1] According to Afife Batur, fountain's plans were drawn by architect Spitta and constructed by architect Schoele, also German architect Carlitzik and Italian architect Joseph Anthony worked on this project.[6]
According to Ottoman inscription fountain's construction started in the Hejira 1319 (1898-1899),[7] although inauguration of fountain planned to take place on September 1, 1900 which was 25th anniversary of Abdülhamid II's ascension to the throne, but construction couldn't finish at planned time and it inaugurated on January 27, 1901 which was Wilhelm II's birthdate.[6] Marble, stone and gem parts of the fountain were constructed in Germany and transported piece by piece to Istanbul by ships.[6]
[edit] Architecture
German Fountain constructed on the site where there was a tree which is known as Vakvak Tree (Turkish: Vakvak Ağacı) or The Bloody Kanlı Plane (Turkish: Kanlı Çınar).[8] In 1656 janissary rebellion, Mehmed IV gave demanded persons to the rebellious and the killed ones were hanged on the Plane in Hippodrome.[8] Boynuyaralı Mehmed Pasha overcame this rebellion, which took two months and named Vak'a-i Vakvakiye, after becoming Grand Vizier.[8] The plane named after Seçere-i Vakvak (Vakvak Tree) which belived to be in Jahannam and its fruits are human heads.[8]
The neo-byzantine style octogonal fountain stood on a high floor, eight stairs, seven brass tap and over its reservoir there is a dome which has eight porphyry columns.[6][9] Reservoir is standing on mosaic tiled platform and it is surrounded with bronze dome and carved marble.[6] There are eight monograms in the stonework and they represent political union of Abdülhamid II and Wilhelm.[7] There are eight medallion situated on archs that are between columns. In four of these medallions, Abdülhamid II's tughra is written on green background, and in other four Wilhelm's symbol "W" is written on Prussia blue background. Also, over "W" there is a crown and below it a "II" is written. Dome was surrounded with bronze circle, but unfortunately this circle was stolen. Exterior bronze green dome is standing over eight porphyry columns, and dome's interior is surface decorated with golden mosaics and again with Abdülhamid II's tughra and Wilhelm II's symbol.[6]
The bronze inscription on reservoir, which was written in German, is "WILHELM II DEUTSCHER KAISER STIFTETE DIESEN BRUNNEN IN DANKBARER ERINNERUNG AN SEINEN BESUCH BEI SEINER MAJIESTAET DEM KAISER DER OSMANEN ABDUL HAMID II IM HERBST DES JAHRES 1898" meaning "German Kaiser Wilhelm II, who constructed this fountain in 1898 autumn, as a gratitude remembrance for his visit to Ottoman Sultan Abdülhamid II". There is also an Ottoman inscription in the arch of fountain, Undersecretary of Seraskery Ahmet Muhtar Bey's eight couplet history verse is written by Hattat İzzet Efendi.[6] In lines, fountain's construction for commemorating Wilhelm II's İstanbul visit is told.
[edit] Notes
[edit] References
- Maxwell, Virginia (2005-02-01). Lonely Planet Istanbul. Lonely Planet, 87. ISBN 1-7405-9483-5.
- Hopkirk, Peter (2001-10-11). On Secret Service East of Constantinople. Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-1928-0230-5.
- Deleon, Jak [2001-09-01] (2002-11-01). Anıtsal İstanbul (Gezgin Rehberi), 4th Edition (in Turkish), Remzi Kitabevi. ISBN 975-14-0902-0.
[edit] External links
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