Map

This is a complex containing the tomb of Ebu Eyüp el-Ensari, a friend and standard-bearer of prophet Mohammed who died during the siege of Constantinople by the Arabs in 674. The two great gateways with baroque forms lead to the outer courtyard. The inner court is surrounded on three sides by a tall colonnade. The trees in the courtyard provide shade as well. The mosque itself in plan is an octagon inscribed in a rectangle and closely resembles Sinan’s Azap Kapı Camii. The decoration elements show baroque features. The side of the building opposite the mosque is a blank wall, most of it covered with panels of tiles without an overall pattern and of many different periods, some of them of great individual beauty. The türbe of Eyüp is in octagonal in shape. On the walls there are exquisite examples of Iznik tiles of the Ottoman era. Being one of the most important religious site for Muslims, the complex is always busy all year around.

It is stated in the document from Ottoman era that the location of the tomb was miraculously found The complex including the tomb, mosque, madrasa, khan, hamam, public kitchen and market, was built by Fatih Mehmet in 1458, five years after the Conquest. Legend says that the location of the tomb was identified after the conquest of the city by Mehmet II. But some medieval Arab historians mention about the existence of the tomb during the Byzantine era and it was venerated by local Christians as well, especially in the times of drought that they prayed for rain. This place was where the ceremony of accession to the throne of the Ottoman sultans took place. On this occasion the new sultan was girded with the sword of Osman, the founder of the empire after whom it is named. This is where the footprint of prophet Mohammed was kept. The existence of the tomb of Eyüp who was killed during the siege of Constantinople in the 7th century and the great importance attributed to him by the Ottomans show how important the city was for the Muslims.

There is no inter-religious relation to speak of but as mentioned above there some historical records from the Byzantine era that Eyüp (Job) was venerated by the Byzantines in times of difficulty, especially drought.

This place was such an important site for the Ottomans that the ceremony of ascension to the throne took place. This is due to the relation of Eyüp to prophet Muhammed as a companion and standard-bearer.

Please describe the didactical relevance and the proposed way to use with the students:
- Direct visit
Direct visit would be ideal for the students to experience
- Virtual visit (specify how)
- A PPP presentation prepared by the teacher.
- Classroom activity (pre- and post- visit)
Pre-visit: A research by students on the conquest of Constantinople, the capital of the Byzantine Empire by the Ottoman Sultan Mehmet II.

Post-visit: Discussion on changing hands of a certain town between the rulers of different faith. Special attention should be paid why Constantinople was an important target to conquer for the Ottomans.