
Sultanic Mosques are large-scale places of worship constructed by members of the Ottoman dynasty and classified as a distinct architectural category based on the status of the patron. This concept denotes not only architectural scale but also the political representation and dynastic affiliation of the structure. Sultanic mosques were predominantly designed as monumental complexes within a külliye framework, integrating religious, social, and cultural functions.Concept and NomenclatureEtymologyT
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Fatma Fırat

Tekfur Sarayı is a historical palace structure located adjacent to the land walls of the Edirnekapı and Ayvansaray (Eğrikapı) areas in the Fatih district of Istanbul. The building, part of the Blakhernai Palace Complex of the Byzantine Empire, is the only palace in Istanbul that has reached the present day with its architectural integrity preserved from the Byzantine period. The gate associated with the structure, known as the Tekfur Sarayı Gate (Porphyrogennetos Gate), measures 3.50 meters in w
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Betül Kantarcı

Karaköy Underground Mosque is a historic mosque located in the Beyoğlu district of Istanbul, adjacent to the Karaköy steamship pier close at place site. Notably distinguished by its architecture and history, this mosque is unique among Istanbul’s mosques as it was constructed underground. The Underground Mosque is one of the religious structures of both Istanbul and the Ottoman Empire, standing out both as a place of worship and for its historical and cultural significance.Underground Mosque (So
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Sümeyra Uzun

Haraççıoğlu Medresesi is an educational structure built during the Ottoman period, located in the Kavaklı Neighborhood of the Osmangazi District in Bursa, Türkiye. The building was originally established as a tekke and later converted into a medrese; today, following restoration, it serves as a venue for cultural and social activities.Historical DevelopmentThe core structure of Haraççıoğlu Medresesi was constructed in the 18th century by Hüseyin Ağa of the Cizyedarzâde family as a tekke affiliat
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Melikcan BUDAK

Yada Stone is a stone known in Turkish cultural history to have been used, in a manner akin to magic, to control weather phenomena such as snow and rain. The Yada stone is mentioned under various names in Turkic dialects and Islamic sources: in Yakut as sata, in Kyrgyz as cay taş, in Kazakh as jadı taş and jay taş, in Bashkir as balataş and yeytaş, in Uyghur as kaştaş, in Altai as cada taş, and in Tuvan as çat taş.In Arabic Islamic sources it is referred to as hacerü'l-metar (rain stone), el-câl
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Yahya B. Keskin

The Hisbe institution, is an official oversight body in Islamic societies that operates in accordance with the principle of enjoining good and forbidding evil to safeguard public morality and order. This institution, whose roots extend back to the time of Prophet Muhammad, has historically been endowed with administrative and limited judicial powers covering a broad spectrum from economic activities to social life. Its historical significance lies in having independently assumed the functions of
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AYBİKE HACIİSMAİLOĞLU

Drahoma is a material contribution provided by the bride’s family to the groom or his family during marriage, particularly observed in Ottoman Greek society and Jewish communities. This tradition, prevalent among Greek Jewish and Armenian communities in Greece Thrace and the Aegean islands common, was practiced to ensure the financial security of the marriage and to safeguard women’s economic status through matrimony.Origin and Function of DrahomaAlthough the origins of drahoma are traced to Anc
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Semanur Polat

Compiled by Necdet Sakaoğlu, the Osmanlı Tarihi Sözlüğü is a comprehensive dictionary that provides definitions of terms related to the administration, institutions, military structures, law, education, architecture, worship, protocol, and daily life of the Ottoman State. As it offers explanations of concepts used during the Ottoman period, it serves as a reference source for historical research and studies. In the work, terms related to the place field examine the administrative and cultural st
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Mehmet Salih Çoban

Charity stones are one of the important structures used during the Ottoman period to foster social solidarity. These stones reflect the culture of assisting those in need within society and form part of a system that enables mutual aid without compromising individual dignity. Found across Ottoman territories as common, charity stones stand out as a practice that encourages the open giving of charity while ensuring it is carried out with humility.Example of a Charity Stone (Source: Sadaka Stone)"
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Sümeyra Uzun

Abdüllâtif Naci Eldeniz was a staff officer and member of parliament who served in military and political roles from the late Ottoman Empire through the Republican period. A graduate of the Military School, Eldeniz was particularly known for his roles as an instructor and inspector; he held command positions at various levels during three major conflicts: the Balkan Wars, the First World War, and the Turkish War of Independence. During the Republican era, he served as a member of parliament and
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Yunus Emre Sağlam