Covered Bazaar


	COVERED BAZAAR

This is the large st covered market in IstanbuL. it was originally founded by Mehmet II in 1461 in order to provide traders with a safe and orderly place in which to do their daily business. The market was enlarged during the reign of Süleyman i and finally rebuilt to the present plan in 1701. There are a total of 65 streets within this market, which is a covered area totalling 30.7022 ms. it is surrounded by a large number of han s -trading inns, which have access to the interior of the bazaar, making them a part of it. Each of these deserves separate notice. Today, the covered bazaar contains a mosque, a mescid - chapel mosque, 21 hans, 2 bedestans (where the valuables wer) kept and sold) 7 fountains, one well, 1 sebilfountain, one þadirvan - free-standing fountain - and 3300 shops. it possesses a total of IS portals, eight of these grand portals, others smaIl gates. The doors are closed at 7 p. m., and approximately 50 guards patrol the bedestan throughout the night. Before electricity, the bazaar was Ht by huge oillamps.

The Arab traveller ýbn Battuta, visiting Istanbul with a Kipchak caravan sent by the Kipchak Baþbug Özbey Han mentions the existance of a market in the area of the Grand Bazaar almost a century before the Turkish conquest of the city.

The Bazaar was burý1t down five times, the most serious damage was inflicted during the fires of 1546 and 1651. An earthquake in 1894 and fires in 1954 which destroyed more than half the bazaar damaged the traditional features of the strueture.

The two bedestans of the Bazaar are known as the Sandal Bedestan and the Cevahir Bedestan.

1. Sandal Bedestan: i. AIso known as the New Bedestan, was built by Mehmet II. it is supported in stone piers and had four doors which were closed 50 years ago. The interior of these vaults were arranged in seetions for use as an auetion room by the town prefeet - Þehremini - Cemil Topuzlu in 1914, for the sal e of antiques, rugs and jewellry.

2. Cevahir Bedestan: The Iç or inner vaults, also known as the old bedestan, it was reserved for the sale of antiques. it was constructed over walls dating from the Byzantine period, and is covered by vaults and cupolas supported by 8 piers. The total area is 1336 m2. During the Ottoman period, jewellers or members of the populace could store valuables here in large iron trunks whieh were under the shops. These were replaced by safe deposit boxes when banks cam e into being.

During the Ottoman period, valuable artefacts, fabries, furs weapons and rugs were bought and sold in the Bedestan. Hence it constituted a merchantile treasury. Now restored, the bedestan has been provided with more light.