Tophane
Encyclopedia
Tophane is a neighborhood in the Beyoğlu
district of Istanbul
, Turkey
. It has a coastline with the Bosporus. In the Ottoman
era it was the city's oldest industrial zone.
known as Tophane-i Amire (Imperial armory), which was built in the reign (1451–1481) of Ottoman Sultan
Mehmed II
. Its main purpose was the manufacturing cannon
s and cannon balls. Tophane, which could be seen in Melling
's (1763–1831) engraving, has not been able to survive to this day. In 1823, during the Firuz Agha fire, the barracks
were burned down only to be renewed later. In addition to this, during the reconstruction effort, the Nusretiye Mosque
was constructed. The oldest remaining military buildings within Tophane were the old General Staff Headquarters and the industry barracks. Both were taken down due to road widening works in 1958. In the place of the barracks, all that is remaining now is the historical clock tower
and Mecidiye Mansion.
The Kılıç Ali Pasha Complex
in Tophane, built by the Ottoman Kapudan-i Derya Kılıç Ali Pasha and designed by the renowned architect Mimar Sinan, is a külliye
(group of buildings) which comprises a mosque
, a medrese, a hamam, a türbe
, and a fountain
that were constructed between 1578 and 1587.
and Armenia
ns, however from the start of the century a large amount of Turks migrated to the region from Anatolia
looking for jobs as laborers at dockyards and industrial zones. Due to this influx of migrate workers Turkish population became the majority in the Tophane region. Arab migrates from Siirt
as well as migrates from provinces such as Bitlis
, Erzincan
, Erzurum
were added to the population. The people of Tophane have a generally conservative attitude to politics and to life.
. Every year, the first week of March, a traditional dress ball is held, this is done in order to celebrate the founding of the school. Currently there are many sisha houses as well as American bazaars which help bring many people to Tophane.
The Istanbul Modern
, a contemporary art
museum established in 2004, is also located in Tophane.
Beyoglu
Beyoğlu is a district located on the European side of İstanbul, Turkey, separated from the old city by the Golden Horn...
district of Istanbul
Istanbul
Istanbul , historically known as Byzantium and Constantinople , is the largest city of Turkey. Istanbul metropolitan province had 13.26 million people living in it as of December, 2010, which is 18% of Turkey's population and the 3rd largest metropolitan area in Europe after London and...
, Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
. It has a coastline with the Bosporus. In the Ottoman
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
era it was the city's oldest industrial zone.
History
The name of the place was driven from the armoryArmory (military)
An armory or armoury is a place where arms and ammunition are made, maintained and repaired, stored, issued to authorized users, or any combination of those...
known as Tophane-i Amire (Imperial armory), which was built in the reign (1451–1481) of Ottoman Sultan
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
Mehmed II
Mehmed II
Mehmed II , was Sultan of the Ottoman Empire for a short time from 1444 to September 1446, and later from...
. Its main purpose was the manufacturing cannon
Cannon
A cannon is any piece of artillery that uses gunpowder or other usually explosive-based propellents to launch a projectile. Cannon vary in caliber, range, mobility, rate of fire, angle of fire, and firepower; different forms of cannon combine and balance these attributes in varying degrees,...
s and cannon balls. Tophane, which could be seen in Melling
Antoine Ignace Melling
Antoine Ignace Melling was a painter, architect and voyager who is counted among the “Levantine Artists”. He is famous for his vedute of Constantinople, a town where he lived for 18 years. He was imperial architect to Sultan Selim III and Hatice Sultan and later landscape painter to the Empress...
's (1763–1831) engraving, has not been able to survive to this day. In 1823, during the Firuz Agha fire, the barracks
Barracks
Barracks are specialised buildings for permanent military accommodation; the word may apply to separate housing blocks or to complete complexes. Their main object is to separate soldiers from the civilian population and reinforce discipline, training and esprit de corps. They were sometimes called...
were burned down only to be renewed later. In addition to this, during the reconstruction effort, the Nusretiye Mosque
Nusretiye Mosque
Nusretiye Mosque is an ornate mosque located in Tophane district of Beyoğlu, Istanbul, Turkey. While its architecture is influenced by Islamic elements, it retains a Baroque style, making it unique to the city. It was built in 1823-1826 by Sultan Mahmut II....
was constructed. The oldest remaining military buildings within Tophane were the old General Staff Headquarters and the industry barracks. Both were taken down due to road widening works in 1958. In the place of the barracks, all that is remaining now is the historical clock tower
Clock tower
A clock tower is a tower specifically built with one or more clock faces. Clock towers can be either freestanding or part of a church or municipal building such as a town hall. Some clock towers are not true clock towers having had their clock faces added to an already existing building...
and Mecidiye Mansion.
The Kılıç Ali Pasha Complex
Kilic Ali Pasha Complex
The Kılıç Ali Pasha Complex is a group of buildings designed and built between 1580 and 1587 by Mimar Sinan, who at the time was in his 90s. The mosque itself was constructed in 1578-1580....
in Tophane, built by the Ottoman Kapudan-i Derya Kılıç Ali Pasha and designed by the renowned architect Mimar Sinan, is a külliye
Külliye
Külliye, deriving from the Arabic word "kull" is a term which designates a complex of buildings, centered around a mosque and managed within a single institution, often based on a vakıf , and composed of a medrese, a darüşşifa, kitchens, bakery, hammam, other buildings for various benevolent...
(group of buildings) which comprises a mosque
Mosque
A mosque is a place of worship for followers of Islam. The word is likely to have entered the English language through French , from Portuguese , from Spanish , and from Berber , ultimately originating in — . The Arabic word masjid literally means a place of prostration...
, a medrese, a hamam, a türbe
Turbe
Türbe is the Turkish word for "tomb", and for the characteristic mausoleums, often relatively small, of Ottoman royalty and notables. It is related to the Arabic turba, which can also mean a mausoleum, but more often a funerary complex, or a plot in a cemetery.-Characteristics:A typical türbe...
, and a fountain
Fountain
A fountain is a piece of architecture which pours water into a basin or jets it into the air either to supply drinking water or for decorative or dramatic effect....
that were constructed between 1578 and 1587.
Population
During the earlier times the main population of Tophane was constituted of GreeksGreece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
and Armenia
Armenia
Armenia , officially the Republic of Armenia , is a landlocked mountainous country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia...
ns, however from the start of the century a large amount of Turks migrated to the region from Anatolia
Anatolia
Anatolia is a geographic and historical term denoting the westernmost protrusion of Asia, comprising the majority of the Republic of Turkey...
looking for jobs as laborers at dockyards and industrial zones. Due to this influx of migrate workers Turkish population became the majority in the Tophane region. Arab migrates from Siirt
Siirt
- External links :* * * *...
as well as migrates from provinces such as Bitlis
Bitlis
Bitlis is a town in eastern Turkey and the capital of Bitlis Province. The town is located at an elevation of 1,400 metres, 15 km from Lake Van, in the steep-sided valley of the Bitlis River, a tributary of the Tigris. The local economy is mainly based on agricultural products which include...
, Erzincan
Erzincan
-Trivia:Erzincan has the largest man made of Portrait of Atatürk, located north of the city, 176m×43m. It covers 7,500 square meter. Turkish Army made it 1982, in 29 days by 3,000 soldier, 100 tons of black and white paint was used...
, Erzurum
Erzurum
Erzurum is a city in Turkey. It is the largest city, the capital of Erzurum Province. The city is situated 1757 meters above sea level. Erzurum had a population of 361,235 in the 2000 census. .Erzurum, known as "The Rock" in NATO code, served as NATO's southeastern-most air force post during the...
were added to the population. The people of Tophane have a generally conservative attitude to politics and to life.
Cultural activities
Tophane building is currently been used as Mimar Sinan University of Fine ArtsMimar Sinan University of Fine Arts
Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University is a Turkish state university dedicated to the higher education of fine arts. It is located in the Fındıklı neighborhood of İstanbul, Turkey.-History:...
. Every year, the first week of March, a traditional dress ball is held, this is done in order to celebrate the founding of the school. Currently there are many sisha houses as well as American bazaars which help bring many people to Tophane.
The Istanbul Modern
Istanbul Modern
The Istanbul Modern Art Museum, aka Istanbul Museum of Modern Art, is a museum of contemporary art in the Beyoğlu district of Istanbul, Turkey, inaugurated on December 11, 2004, prominently featuring the work of Turkish artists...
, a contemporary art
Contemporary art
Contemporary art can be defined variously as art produced at this present point in time or art produced since World War II. The definition of the word contemporary would support the first view, but museums of contemporary art commonly define their collections as consisting of art produced...
museum established in 2004, is also located in Tophane.