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Altımermer is a neighborhood in the Fatih district of Istanbul, Turkey. It lies north of Cerrahpaşa and west of Haseki.
Introduction to Altımermer
Altımermer dates back to the 5th and 6th century and corresponds to the Byzantine quarter of Exakionion (Ἑξακιώνιον), which was outside the Constantinian Walls. By the Ottoman period, the area was known as Exi Mármara (Ἕξι Μάρμαρα) in Greek and Altımermer in Turkish. It literally translates in both languages to “six marbles”, referring to the fragments of a fallen Byzantine column the Ottomans believed had magical properties. The neighborhood contained the largest reservoir in Constantinople.
Altımermer had large Greek, Karamanli, and Armenian populations well into the early 20th century. By the late 19th century, it was famous for its meyhane (taverna) culture. The neighborhood went into decline after the foundation of the Turkish Republic, and no Christians live there today. Altımermer has no exact boundaries.
Dormition of the Virgin Greek Orthodox Church
First, across the street from the Hekimoğlu Ali Pasha Mosque in Cerrahpaşa, is the Dormition of the Virgin Greek Orthodox Church (Κοίμηση της Θεοτόκου / Altı Mermer Panayia Rum Ortodoks Kilisesi), which was originally built around 1449 and dedicated to Panagia Gorgoepikoos. A Byzantine church dating back to at least 604 may have once stood on the site, as well as the 14th century Gorgoepikoos Monastery (Γοργοεπήκοος Ἕξι Μαρμάρων).
The church was likely destroyed in the Great Fire of 1660 and rebuilt in 1691. It burned down again in 1782 and was completely destroyed in 1821. The current structure was built between 1833 and 1835. It became an important pilgrimage site during the 19th century because of a miraculous double-faced icon of the Panagia Gorgoepikoos. Unfortunately, the complex was set on fire during the Istanbul Pogrom on September 6-7, 1955, and the icon was destroyed. The church was renovated in 1965.
Nişancı Mehmed Bey Madrasa
The Nişancı Mehmed Bey Madrasa (Nişancı Mehmet Bey Medresesi) is a block west of the church. It was built between 1563 and 1566 by Eğri Abdizade Mehmed Bey (1514-1566), a marksman of Süleyman the Magnificent. The architect was Mimar Sinan (c. 1490-1588), and it was an independent madrasa not tied to any complex.
The madrasa consists of L-shaped student cells, a central courtyard, and a domed classroom on the northwest corner. It eventually fell into ruin and was overtaken by slums. The slums were cleared after 2007 and the building was restored in the 2010s. Today, it functions as a religious youth center.
Surp Hagop Armenian Church
A block north, you’ll find the Surp Agop Armenian Church (Surp Hagop Ermeni Kilisesi). The original construction date is unknown but it’s assumed to have existed before the 19th century. That building was made of wood. It was restored in 1839 and again in 1858.
Due to danger of collapse, the church was rebuilt by Ottoman-Armenian architect Sarkis Balyan (1835-1899) in 1891 and opened for worship the following year. Restoration was carried out in 2012.
Cistern of Mocius
Finally, a few blocks north of Surp Hagop is the Cistern of Mocius (Κινστέρνη τοῦ Μωκίου / Altımermer Çukurbostanı). It was built under Emperor Anastasius I Dicorus in the late 5th or early 6th century and was the largest Byzantine open-air reservoir in Constantinople. It was named for the Church of St. Mocius, which was near its southwest corner.
The cistern was built outside the Constantinian Walls to supply water to new quarters of the city within the Theodosian Walls. It was probably empty by 1540 and was used as a vegetable garden until the end of the 20th century. Since 2014, it has functioned as the Fındıkzade Educational Park (Fındıkzade Eğitim parkı), and includes social and sporting areas.
The Cistern of Mocius measures 170 meters (560 feet) long and 147 meters (482 feet) wide, and covers an area of 25,000 square meters (270,000 square feet). It may have been between 10.5 meters (34.4 feet) to 15 meters (49 feet) deep, with a capacity of 69 to 98 million gallons of water. The walls were 6 meters (19.69 feet) thick, and partially exist today.
