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The Bayezid II Complex (II. Bayezid Külliyesi) is an important mosque complex in Edirne, Turkey. It operates as the Complex of Sultan Bayezid II Health Museum (Sultan II. Bayezid Külliyesi Sağlık Müzesi).

Bayezid II Complex

 

History of the Bayezid II Complex

The Bayezid II Complex was built between 1484 and 1488. It was a mosque complex that included an important Ottoman medical school and hospital. A bust of its founder, Sultan Bayezid II, sits in the outer courtyard of the medical school. The architect was Mimar Hayruddin.

Bust of Sultan Bayezid II
Bust of Sultan Bayezid II

The medical school and hospital remained in use for almost 400 years until the Russo-Turkish War in 1878. It was notable for its treatment methods for mental disorders. The museum opened in 1997 and the complex is run by Trakya University (Trakya Üniversitesi).

Hospital


 

Visiting the Bayezid II Complex

Admission to the complex and museum is 50₺ for foreigners (as of June 2024) and it’s open daily. It has exhibits explaining the study and breakthroughs of Ottoman medicine and the development of medical services throughout Ottoman history.

Entrance to the complex

Interpretive panels in the museum are in Turkish and English, and provide a wealth of information about Ottoman medical practices and life at the complex. Some of the panels include text taken directly from the hospital and medical school archives. The information provided is excellent and greatly enhances the visitor experience. For a virtual tour of the museum, click here.

To reach the complex, visitors must cross over two historic Ottoman bridges a short walk northwest of the historic city center. You can combine a visit to the complex with the ruins of Edirne Palace, which is about a 15 minute walk away, and loop back into the historic city center from there.

Bayezid II Complex

 

Bayezid II Mosque

The Bayezid II Mosque (II. Bayezid Camii) is the centerpiece of the complex. It was built along with the rest of the complex between 1484 and 1488. The architect was Mimar Hayruddin, and Sultan Bayezid II himself laid the cornerstone.

Bayezid II Mosque at the Bayezid II Complex in Edirne, Turkey
Bayezid II Mosque

 

Outer Courtyard

The outer courtyard in front of the mosque is a pleasant space shaded with several pine trees. There are a few paths and benches to sit and enjoy the peaceful atmosphere.

Outer courtyard at the Bayezid II Mosque
Outer courtyard
Outer courtyard of the Bayezid II Mosque
Outer courtyard
Outer courtyard at the Bayezid II Mosque
Mosque from the outer courtyard

 

Inner Courtyard

The inner courtyard of the mosque is accessed through a monumental entrance with three portals. In the center is an ablutions fountain (şadırvan) and on the north side is a small well. 2 identical minarets, each 38 meters (125 feet) high, flank the central dome.

Inner courtyard at the Bayezid II Mosque at the Bayezid II Complex in Edirne, Turkey
Inner courtyard
Inner courtyard at the Bayezid II Mosque at the Bayezid II Complex in Edirne, Turkey
Inner courtyard

The courtyard is surrounded by arched porticoes covered with small domes. The arches are supported by marble and granite columns with muqarnas capitals.

Arched portico at the inner courtyard at the Bayezid II Mosque in Edirne, Turkey
Arched portico
Doors to the prayer hall at the Bayezid II Mosque
Doors to the prayer hall


 

Prayer Hall

The mosque’s prayer hall is stunningly beautiful, with several windows providing illumination. The walls and window frames are painted with geometric and floral patterns. The mihrab and minbar are made of marble.

Prayer hall at the Bayezid II Mosque
Prayer hall
Prayer hall at the Bayezid II Mosque in Edirne, Turkey
Prayer hall
Minbar and qibla wall at the Bayezid II Mosque
Minbar and qibla wall
Prayer hall from the balcony at the Bayezid II Mosque at the Bayezid II Complex in Edirne, Turkey
Prayer hall from the balcony

The sultan’s gallery on the left side of the prayer hall stands on marble columns. It was the first example of its kind in an Ottoman mosque.

Sultan's gallery at the Bayezid II Mosque
Sultan’s gallery

 

Dome

The dome of the mosque isn’t held up by columns or half domes as in other Ottoman constructions. It sits directly on the walls and has a diameter of 23 meters (75 feet). The drum has 20 windows. For a virtual tour of the Bayezid II Mosque, click here.

Dome at the Bayezid II Mosque at the Bayezid II Complex in Edirne, Turkey
Dome
Wooden shutters at the Bayezid II Mosque at the Bayezid II Complex in Edirne, Turkey
Wooden shutters

 

Guesthouses

Guesthouses sit on each side on the mosque. They both had four rooms and are topped with nine domes. Travelers were able to stay in the guesthouses for free, and patients discharged from the hospital spent a convalescence period there. Today, the guesthouse on the left side of the mosque, next to the Sultan’s Gate (Sultan Kapısı) serves as a café.

Sultan's Gate (left) and guesthouse (right) at the Bayezid II Mosque Complex in Edirne, Turkey
Sultan’s Gate (left) and guesthouse (right)
Guesthouse at the Bayezid II Mosque
Guesthouse
Room in the guesthouse at the Bayezid II Mosque
Room in the guesthouse
Room in the guesthouse at the Bayezid II Mosque
Room in the guesthouse


 

Soup Kitchen of the Bayezid II Complex

The soup kitchen (aşevi) of the Bayezid II Complex provided food to staff, students, patients of the Bayezid II Hospital and Medical School as well as the needy.

Soup kitchen at the Bayezid II Complex in Edirne, Turkey
Soup kitchen

The soup kitchen is located in the outer courtyard of the Bayezid II Complex. The building sits to the left of the Bayezid II Mosque. It contains an excellent and informative exhibit on the function of soup kitchens in the Ottoman Empire and their importance to mosque complexes.

Soup kitchen at the Bayezid II Complex in Edirne, Turkey
Soup kitchen
Soup kitchen at the Bayezid II Complex in Edirne, Turkey
Soup kitchen
Trays
Trays

Mannequins set up in different scenes and wearing uniforms of soup kitchen workers give visitors a good idea of how a soup kitchen would operate. There are also scenes of a coffeehouse and a typical Ottoman dining room.

Soup kitchen workers in the soup kitchen at the Bayezid II Complex in Edirne, Turkey
Soup kitchen workers
Coffeehouse scene in the soup kitchen at the Bayezid II Complex in Edirne, Turkey
Coffeehouse scene
Meal table in the soup kitchen at the Bayezid II Complex in Edirne, Turkey
Meal table
Bakery in the soup kitchen at the Bayezid II Complex in Edirne, Turkey
Bakery

In the dining room of the soup kitchen is a scene depicting Sultan Bayezid II sharing a meal with a Janissary and some officials.

Dining hall in the soup kitchen at the Bayezid II Complex in Edirne, Turkey
Dining hall
Sultan Bayezid II sitting down for a meal in the soup kitchen at the Bayezid II Complex in Edirne, Turkey
Sultan Bayezid II sitting down for a meal

Around the rest of the dining room are serving trays, vessels, and other kitchenware used during Ottoman times. Interpretive panels on the walls highlight the importance of soups to the Ottomans as well as the evolution of Ottoman cuisine.

Dining hall
Dining hall
Kitchen utensils and trays
Kitchen utensils and trays
Scale and bowl; 19th century; Ottoman; copper
Scale and bowl; 19th century; Ottoman; copper

 

Aşçı Yahya Baba

One display inside the soup kitchen is dedicated to the memory of Aşçı Yahya Baba. He was a cook at the Bayezid II Complex in the 15th century who would take leftover rice and feed it to the fish in the Tundzha River behind the complex. Eventually, he would order surplus rice for the pantry and instead of cooking it, he would use it to feed the fish. When he was caught, he was reported to the Sultan Bayezid II who confronted him.

Aşçı Yahya Baba
Aşçı Yahya Baba

The Sultan said, “Yahya Baba! Isn’t what you’re doing a waste?” Aşçı Yahya Baba responded, “My Sultan! Do you see the surplus of the state for us? Is your state’s treat only for people?”. The cook then laid down and died of disappointment. Aşçı Yahya Baba is buried in a tomb just outside the Bayezid II Complex.


 

Kitchen of the Bayezid II Complex

To the north of the soup kitchen is the kitchen (mutfak), which was where the meals served in the soup kitchen were prepared. It was empty and looked like it was being used for storage at the time of my visit.

Kitchen
Kitchen
Kitchen
Kitchen

 

Pantry of the Bayezid II Complex

The kitchen is attached to the pantry (kiler), which was also closed to the public. The pantry stored items needed for the kitchen and soup kitchen.

Pantry at the Bayezid II Complex in Edirne, Turkey
Pantry
Pantry
Pantry


 

Bayezid II Medical School

The Bayezid II Medical School (II. Bayezid Tıp Medresesi / Medrese-i Etibba) was one of the most important sections of the Bayezid II Complex.

Medical School at the Complex of Bayezid II Health Museum in Edirne, Turkey
Bayezid II Medical School

The Bayezid II Medical School was one of the best medical schools of the Ottoman Empire. It consisted of 18 student rooms and a classroom. The rooms surround a central courtyard with a fountain in the middle. Some of the rooms are open to visitors to demonstrate how students lived and learned at the school.

Courtyard of the Bayezid II Medical School at the Complex of Bayezid II Health Museum in Edirne, Turkey
Courtyard

Students were established physicians, each with a different specialization. Their goal was to discover the best possible treatments by discussing the works of Ancient Greek philosophers, physicians, and scientists, such as Plato, Socrates, Hippocrates, Aristotle, and Pythagoras. The hand-written archives of the school are kept in the library of the Selimiye Mosque.

Courtyard of the Bayezid II Medical School at the Complex of Bayezid II Health Museum in Edirne, Turkey
Courtyard

 

Watchman’s Room

The first room open to visitors in the Bayezid II Medical School is the watchman’s room (kapıcı odası), which sits to the right of the entrance. It features a mannequin of the school’s watchman. It’s followed by a room explaining the history of Ottoman medical education.

Watchman's room
Watchman’s room

 

Student Rooms

Next are a pair of student rooms (öğrenci odaları), which depict how students lived while studying at the school.

Student room
Student room
Student room at the Medical School at the Complex of Bayezid II Health Museum in Edirne, Turkey
Student room

 

Applied Training Rooms

Two applied training rooms (uygulamalı eğitim odaları) showcased how students would learn by practicing directly on patients. One room shows treatment with cauterization while another shows treatment of hydrocephaly.

Treatment with cauterization at the Medical School at the Complex of Bayezid II Health Museum in Edirne, Turkey
Treatment with cauterization
Treatment of hydrocephaly
Treatment of hydrocephaly

 

Chief Physician’s Room

The room in the corner is the chief physician’s room (baş müderris odası). Mannequins represent the chief physician sitting on a bench while a student sits on the floor with a book.

Chief physician's room
Chief physician’s room


 

Turkish Experimental Medicine

The next room depicts two physicians with a rooster and a snake. This represents Turkish experimental medicine (Türk deneysel tıbbı).

Turkish experimental medicine at the Complex of Bayezid II Health Museum in Edirne, Turkey
Turkish experimental medicine

 

Classroom

Following a room with information about the history of the Medical School is the classroom (dershane). It’s the largest room in the complex. In the center are mannequins demonstrating the treatment of vertebra dislocation while another mannequin in the rear corner is preparing some kind of concoction. Four students sit on the floor taking notes at their desks.

Treatment of vertebra dislocation in the classroom
Treatment of vertebra dislocation in the classroom
Students observing in the classroom
Students observing in the classroom

 

Training Room

After the classroom is a training room (eğitim odası), where students would discuss treatments and medical philosophy with teachers.

Training room
Training room

 

Library

The final two rooms open to visitors are the library (kütüphane) and the music room (musiki odası). The library has wooden bookcases filled with several volumes as well as a couple mannequins studying.

Library at the Medical School at the Complex of Bayezid II Health Museum in Edirne, Turkey
Library


 

Courtyards of the Bayezid II Hospital

There are two courtyards leading to the hospital of the Bayezid II Complex. The rooms on these courtyards contain different exhibitions.

 

First Courtyard

The First Courtyard (Birinci Avlu) of the Bayezid II Hospital (II. Bayezid Darüşşifası) has a garden in the center and buildings on each side. There’s a small building with four rooms on one side, and a longer colonnaded building with six rooms on the other side. Two separate larger rooms sit opposite each other at the entrance to the Second Courtyard.

First Courtyard at the Complex of Bayezid II Health Museum in Edirne, Turkey
First Courtyard
First Courtyard at the Complex of Bayezid II Health Museum in Edirne, Turkey
First Courtyard

 

Service Rooms

In the past, the smaller building contained service rooms. Today, the first room displays information and photos about the establishment of the Complex of Bayezid II Health Museum.

Service rooms at the Complex of Bayezid II Health Museum in Edirne, Turkey
Service rooms

The next three rooms feature exhibitions on the hospital’s laundry (çamaşırhane), kitchen (mutfak), and pantry (kiler). It was interesting to learn that Ottoman doctors prescribed different foods for different types of illnesses.

Laundry at the Complex of Bayezid II Health Museum in Edirne, Turkey
Laundry
Kitchen at the Complex of Bayezid II Health Museum in Edirne, Turkey
Kitchen
Kitchen
Kitchen
Pantry at the Complex of Bayezid II Health Museum in Edirne, Turkey
Pantry


 

Polyclinic

The rooms in the longer building were used as a polyclinic. Today, they include exhibits about the history of the hospital. The first room belongs to the museum administration, while the next two rooms focus on the life of Sultan Bayezid II and the history of the Bayezid II Complex.

Polyclinic rooms at the Complex of Bayezid II Health Museum in Edirne, Turkey
Polyclinic

The next three rooms display information about the hospital and its medical and administrative staff. In the room about the history of the hospital, an interpretive panel explains how the income from 88 different villages was dedicated to the Bayezid II Complex in 1574.

Villages with income dedicated to the Bayezid II Complex
Villages with income dedicated to the Bayezid II Complex

In the medical and administrative rooms, there are mannequins depicting different staff members. Interpretive panels displayed the job description of each staff member as well as their pay. In 1617, medical staff included a head physician, two surgeons, two physicians, two eye doctors, four orderlies, and a drug mixer.

Medical staff at the Complex of Bayezid II Health Museum in Edirne, Turkey
Medical staff

Administrative staff included a superintendent, scribe, majordomo, provisioner, servant, cleaner, laundry person, doorman, fumigator, two cooks, and a lavatory attendant. More staff was added over time.

Administrative staff at the Complex of Bayezid II Health Museum in Edirne, Turkey
Administrative staff

 

Pharmacies

The two large rooms just before the entrance to the Second Courtyard were once used as pharmacies. The room to the left is now a meeting room, while the room to the right contains an exhibit on the Basic Principles of Ottoman Medicine (Osmanlı Tıbbının Temel İlkeleri).

Basic Principles of Ottoman Medicine
Basic Principles of Ottoman Medicine

The exhibit includes several drawings from the hospital archives and information about how the Ottomans approached medicine and treatment of disease. There are also examples of different medical tools, such as scissors used during eye operations and circumcisions, bladder hooks, flat scrapers used to scrape bones, scalpels, hooked knives to split calluses, and tools to open veins.

Why are they smiling?
Why are they smiling?
Ottoman medical tools
Ottoman medical tools

Other displays include a collection of herbs and spices as well as marine crustaceans used in Ottoman medicine. Shells of these crustaceans were burnt and their ashes were used in drug production.

Herbs and spices used in Ottoman medicine
Herbs and spices used in Ottoman medicine
Crustaceans used in Ottoman medicine
Crustaceans used in Ottoman medicine


 

Second Courtyard

The Second Courtyard (İkinci Avlu) is a much smaller space, with a garden in the center and two rooms on each side. The rooms were used as executive rooms during the Ottoman era.

Entrance to the Second Courtyard at the Complex of Bayezid II Health Museum in Edirne, Turkey
Entrance to the Second Courtyard
Entrance to the Second Courtyard
Entrance to the Second Courtyard
Second Courtyard at the Complex of Bayezid II Health Museum in Edirne, Turkey
Second Courtyard

 

Theriac in Ottoman Medicine

One room to the left contains an exhibit about Theriac in Ottoman Medicine (Osmanlı Tıbbında Tiryak). Theriac was an Ancient Greek concoction dating back to the 1st century. It was invented by Andromachus the Elder, the personal physician of Roman Emperor Nero. The Ottomans used it against bites from snakes and poisonous insects.

Theriac in Ottoman Medicine at the Complex of Bayezid II Health Museum in Edirne, Turkey
Theriac in Ottoman Medicine

 

Rose Gardening in Edirne

The other room to the left is an exhibit about Rose Gardening in Edirne (Edirne’de Gülcülük). Edirne roses were very highly regarded for their superb quality. Rosewater, perfumes, and sweets were sought after by members of the Ottoman court. Physicians used rose products to help patients improve digestion and protect the liver and stomach.

Rose Gardening in Edirne
Rose Gardening in Edirne
Rosewater bottles
Rosewater bottles

 

Methods of Drug Production

A room to the right of the garden in the Second Courtyard covers Methods of Drug Production (İlaç Hazırlama Yöntemleri). It contains different kinds of glass medicine bottles.

Medicine bottles
Medicine bottles
Medicine bottles
Medicine bottles

Ottoman medicines included oils from flowers, powder from different minerals, fruit and herb extracts, and other natural materials. They were prepared using different methods. Some medicines were brought from Egypt and the Greek island of Chios. A collection of minerals used for medicinal purposes are on display.

Minerals used in Ottoman medicine
Minerals used in Ottoman medicine

 

Syrup Workshop

Across the way is the fourth and final room in the courtyard, which is the Syrup Workshop (Şuruphane). It features mannequins of a drug grinder and syrup maker as well as some of the tools they would use.

Drug grinder
Drug grinder
Syrup maker
Syrup maker
Marble mortars and pestles
Marble mortars and pestles


 

Healing House of the Bayezid II Hospital

The Healing House (Şifahane) of the Bayezid II Hospital was one of the most important medical research centers in the Ottoman Empire, especially for treatment of mental health disorders using non-traditional methods. The structure contains four open rooms and six closed rooms surrounding a hexagonal domed courtyard with a fountain in the center. Patients were hospitalized in the rooms during the years the hospital was active. Today, exhibits are presented in each room.

Courtyard of the Bayezid II Hospital at the Complex of Sultan Bayezid II Health Museum in Edirne
Courtyard of the Bayezid II Hospital

 

Smallpox Immunization from Edirne to Europe

Working clockwise, starting from the room just left of the entrance, is an exhibit about Smallpox Immunization from Edirne to Europe (Edirne’den Avrupa’ya Çiçek Aşısı). It features a mannequin representing Lady Mary Wortley Montagu (1689-1762), the wife of the British Ambassador to the Ottoman Empire, Sir Edward Wortley Montagu (1678-1761).

Smallpox Immunization from Edirne to Europe at the Complex of Sultan Bayezid II Health Museum in Edirne
Smallpox Immunization from Edirne to Europe

Lady Montagu was instrumental in introducing and advocating for smallpox inoculation in Britain after observing the process in Adrianople (now Edirne). The inoculation process later spread from London throughout Europe. Interpretive panels include excerpts from her diary.

 

Female Surgeon Küpeli Saliha Hatun

The next section is dedicated to Female Surgeon Küpeli Saliha Hatun (Cerrahe Küpeli Saliha Hatun). Küpeli Saliha Hatun was a 17th century surgeon who learned how to perform hernia surgeries from her husband, Deniz bin Gazi, in Üsküdar.

Female Surgeon Küpeli Saliha Hatun at the Complex of Sultan Bayezid II Health Museum in Edirne
Female Surgeon Küpeli Saliha Hatun

After her husband died in 1620, she performed several hernia surgeries between 1622 and 1624. On display are consent forms signed by her patients, who came from as far away as Bursa, Erzurum, and Trabzon.

 

Gynecology and Obstetrics

The third room is dedicated to Gynecology and Obstetrics (Kadın Hastalıkları ve Doğum). It includes a wealth of information about the treatment of gynecological diseases and childbirth methods during Ottoman times. Drawings and excerpts from the original hospital archives are featured.

Gynecology and Obstetrics at the Complex of Sultan Bayezid II Health Museum in Edirne
Gynecology and Obstetrics
Female surgeon and patient
Female surgeon and patient

Female patients were treated by female doctors and midwives, but a male doctor could intervene if a female doctor wasn’t available. Examples of Ottoman medical tools used for gynecological diseases and childbirth are on display in the room.

Tools used for gynecological diseases and childbirth
Tools used for gynecological diseases and childbirth
Tools used for gynecological diseases and childbirth
Tools used for gynecological diseases and childbirth


 

Esthetic and Reconstructive Surgery

Next is a section about Esthetic and Reconstructive Surgery (Estetik ve Rekonstrüktif Cerrahi). Along with the mannequins is information about different surgeries with an emphasis on breast reduction in men. Other surgeries performed included polydactyly, joint fingers, eyelid deformities, and cleft tongues.

Male breast reduction operation
Male breast reduction operation

 

Psychiatric Patients

The fifth room includes information about Psychiatric Patients (Akıl Hastaları). An excerpt on the wall from the writings of Ottoman traveler Evliya Çelebi (1611-1682) described the mental hospital in 1653. It contained patients from all walks of life afflicted by various diseases. He claimed many patients were admitted to the mental hospital for love sickness in the summer.

Psychiatric Patients at the Complex of Sultan Bayezid II Health Museum in Edirne
Psychiatric Patients

 

Music Therapy in the Hospital

In a niche on the courtyard after the fifth room is an exhibit about Music Therapy in the Hospital (Darüşşifada Müzikle Tedavi). It features several mannequins playing musical instruments. The courtyard was famous for its acoustics and was instrumental in the use of music as well as fragrances and water sounds in therapy.

Music Therapy in the Hospital at the Complex of Sultan Bayezid II Health Museum in Edirne
Music Therapy in the Hospital

 

Severe Psychiatric Patient

Continuing around the courtyard is a room dedicated to a Severe Psychiatric Patient (Ağır Akıl Hastası).

Severe Psychiatric Patient at the Complex of Sultan Bayezid II Health Museum in Edirne
Severe Psychiatric Patient


 

Surgery

Next is an exhibit on Surgery (Cerrahi). The mannequins represent the removal of a cyst. Any visible mass on the outside of the body, including cysts, tumors, and abscesses, were treated by surgeons. Interpretive panels explain how some of these growths were treated.

Surgery at the Complex of Sultan Bayezid II Health Museum in Edirne
Surgery

 

Ear, Nose, and Throat Diseases

The eighth room features Ear, Nose, and Throat Diseases (Kulak-Burun-Boğaz Hastalıkları). Excerpts and original drawings explain how polyps and adenoids in the nose were treated. Other descriptions include a tonsillectomy as well as information about ear problems such as pain, itching, maggots, foreign objects, and hearing loss.

Ear, Nose, and Throat Diseases
Ear, Nose, and Throat Diseases
Insufflation of medicine after polyp or adenoid resection
Insufflation of medicine after polyp or adenoid resection

 

Eye Diseases

The following room includes an exhibit on Eye Diseases (Göz Hastalıkları). Excerpts explain how physicians dealt with a mass in the eyelid.

Eye Diseases at the Complex of Sultan Bayezid II Health Museum in Edirne
Eye Diseases

 

Dental Diseases

The tenth and final room in the hospital was about Dental Diseases (Diş Hastalıkları). Along with the excellent interpretive panels and original drawings from the archives of the hospital are examples of dental tools used to extract teeth and remove excess tissue.

Dental Diseases
Dental Diseases
Cauterization for toothache
Cauterization for toothache
Cauterization of loose gums
Cauterization of loose gums
Dental tools
Dental tools

 

Map of the Bayezid II Complex

Author

Owner of Paisadventure. World traveler. Chicago sports lover. Living in Colombia.

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