Location Sivas, Turkey Website www.gokmedrese.com Completed 1271 Opened 1271 Number of minarets 2 | Affiliation Islamic Architectural type Madrasah Direction of façade west-southwest Phone +90 346 223 59 08 | |
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Address Gökmedrese Mahallesi, Gökmedrese Cad., 58070 Merkez/Sivas Merkez/Sivas, Turkey Architectural styles Seljuk architecture, Islamic architecture Similar Şifaiye Medrese, Çifte Minareli Medrese, Divriği Great Mosque a, Tombs of the kings of Pontus, Ataturk Congress & Ethnogr | ||
Gökmedrese or Gök Medrese (literally: "Celestial Madrasah" or "Blue Madrasah"), also known as Sahibiye Medresesi, is a 13th-century medrese, an Islamic educational institution, in Sivas, Turkey.
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The medrese was commissioned by Sahip Ata Fahrettin Ali, a vizier and the de facto ruler of Seljuk Sultanate of Rûm after the death of Pervane in 1277. Up to 1271, he was usually in good terms with Pervane. He commissioned many buildings in Anatolia. Gökmedrese is one of the most imposing of all. The original name of the medrese is Sahibiye, referring to Sahip Ata. But it is usually known as Gökmedrese, because of the sky-blue tiles used at the building.
History
The medrese was constructed by an Armenian or Cappadocian Greek, from Konya, known as "Kaloyan" (Konya was the capital of Seljukids.) Originally, it was a two storey building. There were also a hamam (Turkish bath) and a soup kitchen for 30 people. But presently, only the 13 rooms of the lower floor exist. It was restored in 1823 and was in use up to 1926.
Technical details
There are two 25 m (82 ft) high minarets, one at each side of the portal. The width of the building is 31.25 m (102.5 ft). The dimensions of the courtyard is 24.25 m × 14.40 m (79.6 ft × 47.2 ft). There are two divisions, one leading to the mescit (prayer room) and the other to class rooms.
Vakıf
In middle age Islamic countries Vakıf was a source of revenue, endowed for the exploitation and the maintenance of the foundations as well as for the salaries of the staff. In Gökmedrese case, there were 85 markets, nine villages, two farms and some other sources endowed as vakfiye.