The Mosque and
Mausoleum of Eyüp Sultan, located outside the
corner where the land walls meet the walls along
the Golden Horn, is considered a sacred site for
Moslems. Eyüp-el-Ensari was a standard-bearer of
Mohammed and he died-here during an Arabic siege
of the city in the 7th century. His grave was
discovered at the conquest and later the
mausoleum and the first
mosque in
Istanbul were built on this site. The
original mosque was destroyed in an earthquake
and the present one was constructed in its place
in 1800. On Fridays, holy days for Islam,
throngs of the faithful visit the mausoleum. The
old trees, flocks of pigeons, the praying
believers and the visiting crowds create a
mystical and colorful atmosphere around the
mosque and the mausoleum. The walls of the
mausoleum in the courtyard are covered with
tiles from different periods.
Historical sources indicate that in
Byzantine
times this district was also a holy site where
people came to visit the grave of a saint and to
pray for rain during times of drought.
The sultans succeeding Mehmet the Conqueror
completed their coronation and sword-bearing
ceremonies with a visit to the Eyup Sultan
Mausoleum.
The vicinity of the mosque and the neighboring
hills are occupied by cemeteries. The famous
Pierre Loti Cafe is also in this district. The
well-known poet and author Loti was enraptured
by Istanbul and he came here often to watch the
beauties of the Golden Horn of those days. The
view from this small cafe and the terrace,
particularly during full moon, leaves
long-lasting impressions on the visitors.
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