MOSQUE OF SHAHZADEH DJAMESI.
CONSTANTINOPLE.
This mosque was erected on the following occasion. The fame of Soliman the Magnificent was stained by the murder of two of his sons, Mustapha and Selim, by his own orders. When in an interval of peace, he directed his attention to beautify the city, and erected the splendid edifice which bears his name: he also ordered one to be built in 1544, to the memory of his murdered son Mustapha, and as a mausoleum for his remains. Thence it was named Shahzadeh Djamesi, “the mosque of the king’s son.”
The area of this mosque, like that of many others, is open to the public, and a mart, where fruit and various articles are sold. Our illustration represents a scene among the groups of persons, of frequent occurrence−a Turkish functionary flogging a Greek fruiterer for false weights, while the rest look on and enjoy the chastisement he is receiving.
FOOTNOTES:
1 The word Islam is mentioned in the Koran as, “the true faith.” It signifies, literally, “resignation.” A professor of it is called Moslem, and, in the plural number, Moslemûna, which is corrupted, by us, into “Mussulman.”
2 He was lame of one leg, and hence called Demur lenk, which we have corrupted into Tamerlane.
3 The origin of this word is a subject of controversy. Some suppose it derived from the Greek εις την πολιν, eis tēn polin, which they used when going to the capitol. It is, with more probability, a simple corruption of the former name. The barbarians who pronounce Nicomedia, Ismid, would be likely, in their imperfect imitation of sounds, to call Constantinople, Stambool.
4 The fondness of the Turks for flowers was remarked by Busbequius, in his embassy to Soliman the Magnificent, a century before−Turcæ flores valde excolunt. Busb. p. 47. He notices the tulip as a flower new to him, and peculiar to the Turks.
5 It is, however, more generally supposed that Olympus in Thessaly and Macedon is that designated by Homer.
6 Exod. xxiv. 4. Joshua iv. 3.
7 As it may be agreeable to some of our readers to know how to make this ancient food, the following is the mode pursued by the Turks:−A quart of boiled milk is poured upon barm of beer, and allowed to ferment. Of this fermentation two spoonsful are poured into another quart of milk. When this process is repeated, the flavour of barm is altogether lost. The yaourt thus made becomes the substance which forms the future food without more barm. A tea-spoonful is bruised in a vessel, and a quart of tepid fresh milk is poured upon it, and set aside in an earthen vessel: in two hours it will be a rich, thick, subacid fluid, covered with a coat of cream.
8 It is supposed the Hummums in Covent Garden, whose etymology has puzzled so many, were so called from the warm-baths they contain, first introduced from Turkey.
9 To this the Greek girls form an exception. Refined by education, strongly attached to their families, and abhorrent to slavery, their natural vivacity is overcome by their state, and they appear sad and dejected amid the levity that surrounds them.
10 This practice is resorted to on other occasions. When any article is dropped into the water too minute to be discovered by the eye above, or dragged for, a small quantity of oil is thrown upon the surface, and rings and other trinkets have thus been recovered in a depth of ten or twelve feet of water.
11 “Les Grecs appellent Saint Jean Ayos Seologos an lieu d’Agios Theologus, le Saint Theologien, parce qu’ils prononcent le theta comme un sigma.”—Tournefort.
12 Horologia in publico haberent nondum adduci potuerunt.—Busbeq.
13 Caravan Seraï, the “Merchants’ Palace.”
14 Rev ii. 15.
15 Acts vi. 5.
16 1 Tim. vi. 20.
FISHER, SON, AND CO., PRINTERS.
CONSTANTINOPLE
AND
ITS ENVIRONS.
SECOND SERIES