Author
Mimar Sinan and his assistant Kerez Nicholas.
Author Original
المعمار سنان ومساعده كيريز نيقولا
Publication Date
971 / 1564
Type
Other
Language
Undetermined
Digital
Yes
Manuscript
No
Library
Museum With No Frontiers
Record ID
monument;ISL;tr;Mon01;34;ar
Library Location
Kemerburgaz, Istanbul, Türkiye
Date
971 / 1564
Notes
As the population of Istanbul increased during the 10th / 16th century, the problem of water shortages worsened. It is said that Sultan Suleiman was once on a fishing trip and noticed the presence of water sources that could be exploited, and then he ordered research to be conducted on them. At that time, Mimar Sinan was the chief architect of the palace. He conducted a survey of the area and recommended the establishment of a system to draw water and transport it to the city. In light of this, Suleiman ordered the construction of a water supply system to begin in 961 / 1554. The project was completed in 970 / 1563, but part of it was soon demolished by floods, and it had to be rebuilt in 971 / 1564. This system cost about 50 million aka, the monetary unit in circulation in the Ottoman Empire. This water supply system, with its eastern and western branches, was to collect water from Several springs are located about 25 km northwest of Istanbul, and it borders the village of Kaymerburgaz from the south, then continues in one line until it reaches the city of Istanbul. The system consists of a covered range (total length of 55 km and section measuring 55x175 cm), 33 gantry and collection and distribution centres; It feeds water to the parts of the city that are located at an altitude not exceeding 34 metres. At a later stage, between 1029 / 1620 and 1234 / 1818, a number of additional reservoirs and arches were built. A small part of this water supply system dates back to before the reign of Sultan Suleiman, such as the part connecting Agrekapi and Gibeskoy dating back to the reign of Mehmed II. Other parts of this system, such as the Qoqqeymer Aqueduct, were built on Byzantine ruins. Among the 33 barrages that make up the Kaymerburgaz water supply system, there are five huge barrages consisting of two or three tiers of arches that extend over long distances. The Qanaterpashaqimri or Baliqzadeh Qanatar is 102 meters long and 16.4 meters high, and is of two levels. Uzunqimer Aqueduct is 711 meters long and 25 meters high, and is also two-tiered. Its plastered upper range measures 60 x 175 cm and is covered with stone panels. Qooq Qaymar Arch, or Qayriq Qaymar, is 258 m long and 35 m high, and turns at an angle of 90 degrees. Its first section consists of one layer, while its second section consists of three layers. The Maglua or Mwalak Barrage, which is considered the largest part of the system, is 258 m long and 36 m high. It has two layers, one of which contains eight large arches and the other contains eight small arches. Ghezlıcıqımer Aqueduct or Guzlıcıqımer Aqueduct is 165 m long and 34.5 m high, and also consists of two layers. There are important single-layer aqueducts, namely the Ayvad (185 m), Kurt (305 m), Qaraqimer (62.6 m), Balikli Qaymer (125 m) and Valid Qaymer (38.8 m) aqueducts. This system supplies water to more than 300 tanks in the city originally, 135 of which were built as religious institutions belonging to Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent. Later additions raised the number to 580 tanks. The parts of the system located outside the city walls of Istanbul have been in use for more than 400 years.
Sample Text
"Kamerburgaz Arches" within Discover Islamic Art. Museum Without Borders, 2026. 2026. https://islamicart.museumwnf.org/database_item.php?id=monument;ISL;tr;Mon01;34;ar
