The Spice Bazaar ( Egyption Bazaar = Turkish: Mısır Çarşısı )

The Spice Bazaar ( Egyption Bazaar = Turkish: Mısır Çarşısı )

 

The Spice Bazaar, the second biggest closed bazaar of Istanbul, was commisioned by Turhan Sultan between 1663 - 1664 as a part of the Yeni Cami Külliyesi ( series of buildings) which consisted of a mosque a line of shops, a tomb, two fountain and a school. It is behind the New Mosque near the Flower Bazaar in Eminönü. One line of the L which is about 120 meters long tretches perpendicular to the mosque and the other line stretches parallel to the mosque for 150 meters. There are 46 stores (23 on one side and 23 on the othe side) in the long line and 36 stores (18 on one side and 18 on the othe side) in the short line. There are also 6 iwans and 88 stores in the joint which makes 88 stores in total. This number has reached 105 now. The square in the middle of the joint of the two lines is called the prayer square and there is also an azan platform build there. The construction of the New Mosque, whose construction took the longest. (60 years) in the history of the Ottoman Empire was started by Mimar Kazım Ağa. The Imperial Head Architect Mustafa Ağa complated the construction. Rubble, stone blocks and bricks were used in the consruction of the bazaar. It was named the Valide Bazaa when it was first founded but it was named the Mısır Çarşısı (the Egyption Bazaar) but due to the many types of spice sold here, it is known as a Spice Bazaar by foreign tourists as it was a place where goods from Egypt were sold in the middle of the 18th century. The Bazaar was heavily damaged in two big fires that occured in 161 ard 1940. It took its final shape after the restoration done by the Municipality of Istanbul in 1940. The Bazaaar has six gates some of which are not used today. The two main gates of the Spice Bazaar provide a connection between Eminönü and Sultanhamam. The side gates open to the New Mosque Tahtakale, Mercan, Yemiş İskelesi and Süpürgeciler. The Spice Bazaar was degignated for herb sellers and quilt makers at first but the number of herb sellers and quilt makers at first but the number of herb sellers decreased, particularly in the 1970,s and these were replaced by jewelers, dried fruit sellers drapers and other stores. Despite all these, it is a big bazaar where dry plants various herbs and hundreds of different spices to cure all problems have been sold throughout its history.  The curative herbs of Anatolia have been distributed all over the world through the spice Bazaar, despite the fast food habits, energy drinks and food with additives which are becoming more and more widespread.