Narrative of Travels in Europe, Asia, and Africa, in the Seventeenth Century, Vol. IEvliya Çelebi
History
Narrative of Travels in Europe, Asia, and Africa, in the Seventeenth Century, Vol. I
Evliya Çelebi
Caucasus, South -- Description and travel; Istanbul (Turkey) -- Description and travel; Turkey -- History
The first college founded at Constantinople after its conquest by
Sultán Mohammed was that of Ayá Sofía; the next was the foundation of
the eight colleges on the right and left, that is, on the north and
south of Sultán Mohammed’s mosque; these eight colleges may be compared
to eight regions of Paradise. The Sultán also founded a school for
the reading of the Korán on a spot adjoining the college, and on the
east a hospital for the poor. This hospital is a model for all such
foundations. On the north and south of the eight colleges are the cells
of the students (_sokhté_), three hundred and sixty-six in number,
each inhabited by three or four students, who receive their provisions
and candles from the trust (_wakf_). There is also a conservatory
(_dár-uz-ziáfat_), and a kitchen lighted by seventy cupolas, which may
be compared to the kitchen of Kaikáús, where the poor are fed twice a
day. Near this refectory there is a cárávanseráï, and a large stable
capable of holding three thousand horses and mules.
The medreseh of Sultán Báyazíd is situate on the south side of the
grand court of his mosque. The Sheikh-ul-Islám is the chief lecturer,
and superintends its affairs.
The medreseh of Sultán Selím, near Yení-bághcheh, at the Koshk of
Khaljílar, was built by Sultán Soleïmán, but dedicated to the memory
of his father. Its revenue was derived from the Yení-bághcheh (new
garden), which originally was one mile long and half a mile broad.
On this very spot Sultán Selím pitched his camp when he came to the
empire, and received the act of obeisance.
The medreseh of Sultán Soleïmán, on the north and south of this mosque,
consists of four schools, one for the traditions (_dár-ul-hadíth_), one
for reading the Korán (_dár-ul-kiráa’t_); a separate one for medicine,
with an hospital and an asylum for the insane, numerous baths, a
cáravánseráï, a stable, and a boys’ school.
The college of the Prince Mohammed was built by Sinán, and is famous
for its learning.
The college of Sultán Ahmed I. adjoins the mosque of the same name.
The college of Kara Mustafá Páshá is near Parmák-kapú (finger-gate).
The college of Mo’íd Efendí is near the Kádhí Cheshmeh.
The college of Hámid Efendí, at the Fílyúkúshí (Elephant’s hill).
The college of Hasan Páshá, near the palace of Jánpúlád Zádeh, is a
fine lofty building, and the lower part of it is ornamented with shops.
The college of Esmakhán Sultán, is within the Adrianople gate.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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