Bedesten

A Bedestan (or bezistan or bedesten) is covered market usually for haberdashery and craftsmanship.[1] Bezistans were built in Ottoman Empire and their design is based on the design of the mosques[2].

A Bedestan, in the most basic definition, is the central building of the commercial part of the town. It has its origins in the Greco-Roman Basilica or Kaiserion, which served a similar purpose .

The Bedestan was such an important building that during Ottoman times cities were often classified under two categories, cities with a Bedestan and cities without a Bedestan. [3]

Contents

Etymology

The origin of the word is Arab word bez, which means clothes, linen but also indicating embroidery and other precious items, and Persian suffix istan.[4]

Examples of Bezistans

Numerous bezistans were built during Ottoman Empire, but not all of them survived. Some of the most notable bezistans are:

Examples of Bezistans in the balkan's region.
Bezistan in Thessaloniki, Greece.  
Bezistan in Serres, Greece - Archeological Museum of Serres.  
Bezistan in Serres, Greece - Archeological Museum of Serres.  
Bezistan - castle in Larissa, Greece.  
Detail of Bezistan - castle in Larissa, Greece.  
Entrance of Gazi-Husrev Beg's Bezistan of Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina.  
Interior of the Gazi-Husrev Beg's Bezistan in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina.  
Brusa Bezistan of Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina [5].  
Bezistan in Yambol, Bulgaria.  

References

  1. ^ Khadra Jayyusi, Salma; Renata Holod, Attilio Petruccioli, André Raymond (2008). "The Ottoman cities on the Balkans". The city in the Islamic world. Leiden ; Boston: Brill. p. 149. ISBN 9789004162402. http://books.google.rs/books?id=nY2DqJNPmioC&pg=PA149&dq=Bezistan+covered+market&hl=en&ei=HlyyTp32G4fesgbLnJj7Aw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=3&ved=0CDEQ6AEwAjge#v=onepage&q=Bezistan%20covered%20market&f=false. Retrieved 3 November 2011. "...bedesten (or bezistan, meaning enclosed market)..." 
  2. ^ Norris, H. T. (1993). "Glossary". Islam in the Balkans: religion and society between Europe and the Arab world. London: Hurst. p. xiv. ISBN 9781850651673. http://books.google.rs/books?id=kTcRDKnYf2cC&pg=PR14&dq=Bezistan+covered+market+ottoman+architecture&hl=en&ei=omyyTrPiC4Hf4QSwyrTGAw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=3&ved=0CC8Q6AEwAg#v=onepage&q=Bezistan%20&f=false. Retrieved 3 November 2011. 
  3. ^ Kreiser, Klaus: „Bedesten-Bauten im Osmanischen Reich. Ein vorläufiger Überblick auf Grund der Schriftquellen.“, in: Istanbuler Mitteilungen (Deutsches Archäologisches Institut, Abteilung Istanbul) 2, pp.367-400 (Tübingen 1979), reprint in Istanbul und das Osmanische Reich. Derwischwesen, Baugeschichte, Inschriftenkunde. Istanbul: Isis 1995. 286 S. (Analecta Isisiana. 14) pp.61-96.
  4. ^ Zeitschrift für Ethnologie. Springer-Verlag. 1974. p. 226. http://books.google.rs/books?ei=aV-yTuTqLYaTswbvltiCBA&ct=result&id=tcoXAQAAMAAJ&dq=Bezistan+covered+market&q=bedesten#search_anchor. Retrieved 3 November 2011. 
  5. ^ a b "Brusa bezistan (Rustem Pasha bezistan, Small bezistan) with shops, the architectural ensemble". Bosna i Hertegovina - Commission to Preserve National Momuments. http://www.kons.gov.ba/main.php?id_struct=50&lang=4&action=view&id=2841. Retrieved 2011-11-05. 
  6. ^ "Gazi Husrev-beg bezistan with shops, the architectural ensemble". Bosna i Hertegovina - Commission to Preserve National Momuments. http://www.kons.gov.ba/main.php?id_struct=50&lang=4&action=view&id=2857. Retrieved 2011-11-05. 
  7. ^ "Μπεζεστένι Σερρών". Ελληνικό Πανόραμα Αριθ. τεύχους 30 - 2002. Ιστοσελίδα Κεντρικής Βιβλιοθήκης Σερρών. http://www.serrelib.gr/bezasteni.htm. Retrieved 2011-11-05. 
  8. ^ Αλίκη Σαμουηλίδου - Αιμιλία Στεφανίδου-Φωτιάδου (Μάιος 1983). "Η Θεσσαλονίκη κατά την Τουρκοκρατία - Τα τουρκικά μνημεία". Περιοδικό Αρχαιολογία 7: 62. http://www.arxaiologia.gr/site/content.php?artid=409. 

External links