In a discussion of the strategic castles around Istanbul, Evliya Çelebi speaks in particular of Silivri. After saying that the fortress at Silivri was an important place in any siege of “Islambol” and was treated like a suburb of the city, he describes the buildings of the town and states that there was an imperial garden there that was cultivated and looked after by a head gardener and his team (Seyahatnâmesi, 3:106a). Moreover, he informs us that Silivri Bahçesi was the work of Mehmed II (Seyahatnâmesi, 1:144b). His description comes from discussions with Seyyid Lokman, the vizier of Silivri Palace and the author of an important Şehnâme, covering Selim II’s reign and part of Murad III’s, which recounts how Selim II often went hunting there. A miniature of the castle mentioned by Evliya Çelebi illustrates a good example of an Ottoman garden pavilion adorned with flowers in vases.
The text for this entry is adapted from Nurhan Atasoy, Garden for the Sultan, 236.
Source: Travel Account, 17th century, Court Chronicle.
-Nurhan Atasoy, Seyit Ali Kahraman
Resources:
Evliya Çelebi Seyahatnâmesi: Topkapı Sarayı Bağdat 304 Yazmasının transkripsiyonu (Open in Zotero)
A Garden for the Sultan: Gardens and Flowers in the Ottoman Culture (Open in Zotero)
Originally published at: Atasoy, Nurhan, and Seyit Ali Kahraman “Silivri Garden” Middle East Gardens Traditions. Dumbarton Oaks, December 1, 2014. https://www.doaks.org/resources/middle-east-garden-traditions/catalogue/C98. Archived at: https://perma.cc/5UDZ-R9BM.
