The government that named dormitories and mosques after Mimar Sinan forgets to protect the historical monuments themselves!

As the 437th anniversary of the passing of Ottoman architect Mimar Sinan is commemorated, some of his works remain abandoned. His works, which have defied the centuries, face a current of neglect.

Government officials, especially AKP President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, frequently speak highly of Mimar Sinan, naming newly built dormitories and mosques after him. But are his works given the same respect? No.

Still a source of inspiration for students, architects, and art lovers today, some of Mimar Sinan's works in Istanbul have been virtually abandoned. Some have even been forgotten, their names forgotten, and some even their whereabouts forgotten.

Cumhuriyet spoke with archaeologist Ömer Faruk Yavaşçay about those artifacts that were abandoned to their fate or were victims of restoration:

Perhaps one of Mimar Sinan's most intriguing, yet relatively unknown, works is the "Istanbul's Midpoint Stone." It is a cylindrical stone built by Mimar Sinan at the behest of Suleiman the Magnificent to sit at the very center of the city of contemporary Istanbul. Currently, a portion of the stone lies underground, covered with paving stones, and cracks are evident. Archaeologist Yavaşçay recounted the stone's story as follows:

"It can be visited, but even people passing by don't notice the stone. First, it needs to be restored. Half of the stone is buried underground. It's surrounded by paving stones, partially obscuring the monument. There are cracks on the 'Central Point of Istanbul' stone. Furthermore, some people, aware of the importance of this place, are stealing pieces of the stone. There's no security or cameras to prevent this.

A museum should be opened next to this monument. It should explain both its historical history and, if restored, the restoration process. A small souvenir shop would also be established, which would contribute to the promotion of these historical artifacts when foreign tourists bring these items back to their home countries.

Another structure facing the threat of extinction is the Mimar Sinan Mosque in the Fatih district. While the minaret remains intact, the remaining sections have been completely altered, far removed from their original state. Yavaşçay, noting that the mosque has now transformed into a structure similar to today's neighborhood mosques, listed his suggestions and observations as follows:

"This place needs to be restored to its original state as close as possible. There's also a fountain in front of it, also designed by Mimar Sinan. The fountain is also underground. It needs to be brought back to light. It's also surrounded by barbed wire. All of this needs to be fixed."

Another of Mimar Sinan's works that hasn't received the recognition it deserves and fallen victim to Istanbul's unplanned urbanization is the Haramidere Bridge in the Büyükçekmece district. It's nestled in the middle of intersections on the E5 Highway, making it nearly impossible to reach. Yavaşçay, noting that people can't visit the bridge due to accessibility difficulties, said an underpass or overpass should be built in this area and that necessary security measures should be taken.

The Kara Ahmet Pasha Mosque in Topkapı has also been abandoned to its fate... The bullets in the dome of the tomb here have been poured out.

"LOVE OF HISTORICAL ARTIFACTS MUST BE INSPECTED FROM A YOUNG AGE"

According to archaeologist Yavaşçay , all these artifacts need to be restored to their original state and opened to the public. Yavaşçay emphasized that both authorities and citizens fail to give historical artifacts the value they deserve, concluding his remarks:

"We teach history in schools, but we don't introduce historical artifacts to them and foster a love for them. Children need to be instilled with a love of historical artifacts from a young age. This isn't the case in developed countries; in those countries, they take children to historical artifacts and tell them they need to protect them. Here in our schools, we only have one trip to historical sites a year, and it's quickly brushed over, leaving people confused about what's what."