Although it is reported that the building was commissioned in 1894 by Neşet Pasha, the Mutasarrıf of Kırkkilise, and Hacı Mestan Efendi, the mayor, the front pages of the newspapers *Malumat* (dated November 8, 1900) and *Servet* (dated November 10, 1900) feature a photograph said to depict the building’s opening. The building does not have an inscription. The building was used as a municipal building until 1962. In the 1970s, it was vacated and left to decay. Restoration of the building began in 1983 and continued intermittently; it was completed in 1993 and opened to the public as a museum.1 In terms of its floor plan characteristics, the building has not remained entirely original. Its long-term use as a municipal building, followed by a period of abandonment, subsequent repairs, and its use for a different function, have resulted in certain changes to the building’s floor plan. It is believed that while the ground floor plan has retained its original form, the rooms on the first floor were later merged, causing it to lose its original layout.2
Transcriptions of the tombstones on display in the museum garden are provided below.
Gravestone K01 (transcribed by Mr. Furkan Yiğit Gürleyik on September 7, 2026):
"The meaning of
the sign 'Fâ tihâ' is merely …….
Today it is for me, tomorrow it will be for you
………….. for
the soul of bin Ahmed [Year] 1183"
Gravestone K02 (transcribed by Mr. Furkan Yiğit Gürleyik on September 7, 2026):
(Meter: Fâ’ilâtün/Fâ’ilâtün)
“The three have come d[on this date]
Grant it, O God
, to the late
Es-Seyyid Mustafa Ağa, son of Koyuncu, may his soul rest in peace [?]
Year 1204
, 24th (Ramadan)"
Gravestone K03 (Transcribed by Mr. Furkan Yiğit Gürleyik and Mr. Mustafa Üzel on September 7, 2026):
"(33. Sekban Hunters’ Emblem) Al-Bâkî (33. Sekban Hunters’ Emblem)
He
has departed from transience to eternity; may Allah make his grave a garden of Paradise"
Gravestone K04 (Transcribed by Mr. Furkan Yiğit Gürleyik on September 8, 2026):
(Meter: Fâ'ilâtün/Fâ'ilâtün/Fâ'ilâtün/Fâ'ilün)
“El-Fâtihâ
—In my youth, I was afflicted by a ……illness….I was
afflicted. Death came—there is no remedy—and I resolved to seek eternal
life. O God, I found no peace in this world ……
You are the Generous One—will You grant it? Is there serenity
in the land of Bükâ? Ahiyyevî? From Burgoz, the daughter of Monlâ
Hüseyin, the late Şerîfe ‘Âtiye
—for
her soul—1285"
Gravestone K05 (Transcribed by Mr. Furkan Yiğit Gürleyik on September 8, 2026):
"He is the Everlasting
One. El-Hajj Emin Efendi,
the court scribe of Bergos, had this sacred
place prepared. Behold, fate has brought him to the inevitable sword of death
……………."
Gravestone K06 (Transcribed by Mr. Furkan Yiğit Gürleyik on September 8, 2026):
"El-Bâkî
—he departed this world
while still young. May
God grant such a gentle soul a grave filled with light. O Lord
, grant it! For
the soul of the
late Monlâ ‘Abdullâh, El-Fâtihâ, year 1238"
Gravestone K07 (Transcribed by Mr. Furkan Yiğit Gürleyik on September 9, 2026):
"He is the Everlasting
, the Great
Unifier. From
the ancient Sipahi family, the late
and forgiven Sayyid Ibrahim
Ağa, may his soul—for his
satisfaction, let us recite the Fātiḥah"
Gravestone K08 (Transcribed by Mr. Furkan Yiğit Gürleyik on September 9, 2026):
"Alas, that noble
soul passed away in exile. Read the Fātiha for his soul, O mourner
. Stay here a little while
out of kindness. A voice came, saying, “A gem has arrived,” and the date was inscribed—to him
: ‘You were young; alas, what a pity for you, Nazîf
. Year 1251, on the 23rd of Shawwal (Şevvâl).’”
Gravestone K09 (Transcribed by Mr. Furkan Yiğit Gürleyik on September 12, 2026):
"[……..] Death came as
fate decreed. Alas, what a parting! Ah, a stranger—I was [….]
[…..] as much as the beauty of […..]
As if a man…. like a head […..]
Whoever visits his grave, may they offer
water and recite one Fatiha as a gift? Prayer
: Two men came at the time of his passing; the world became history
. His soul departed to God—El-Hâcî ‘Âşık Mustafâ
, 1223
, on the 11th of Zîl-Qa’dah.”
Gravestone K10 (Transcribed by Mr. Furkan Yiğit Gürleyik on September 12, 2026):
"[………………….]
Avoid impure intentions….[……]
Since Selim Ağa has been a resident here for a full month, is the wall complete? This daughter
, Şerîfe ‘Âdile Hanım, found no refuge
from death. Alas, she departed for the hereafter while still young, her wishes
unfulfilled. Having tasted martyrdom, she bore witness to it….Upon hearing
this final verse, Rashid inscribed
the date: “For this martyr of the soul—who will offer the best prayer? Immediately
. On the 9th of L. (Shawwal) in the year 1231”
Gravestone K11 (Transcribed by Mr. Furkan Yiğit Gürleyik on September 16, 2026):
(Meter: Fâ’ilâtün/Fâ’ilâtün/Fâ’ilâtün/Fâ’ilün)
"He is the Everlasting
. Having departed this world
, I have left behind all worldly possessions and dominion
. May my
brothers who come to visit my grave recite this verse for my soul: “He is the-lâhu’—the verse
of Müteferrika at the exalted court, the son of Vîdinli
Mehmed Ağa, as it is said? A Fatiha
for the soul of ‘Alî
[Begi]. Year 1229”
The gravestone located to the right of Grave K11 and partially visible in the photograph (transcribed by Mr. Furkan Yiğit Gürleyik on September 16, 2026):
"Fatiha
from the Imperial
Military Academy, issued by the hⱽâce-gân……….
from the Imperial Court
………… Bek kâi…………….
….. may he be forgiven…………….
……."
Gravestone K12 (transcribed by Mr. Furkan Yiğit Gürleyik on September 16, 2026):
(Meter: Mefâ’îlün/Mefâ’îlün, eight-syllable meter)
"[…………….]
Having abandoned all but
God, Today he resolved
to attain eternal life; Having drunk
from the cup of death, He attained
the abode of light and bliss. There is no
permanence in this world; He knewthat the end is transience
; having donned the garment
of Paradise, he departed
, having abandoned transience. Sergenli el-Hâcc Ebû Bekr Ağa
Zâde, one of the royal eunuchs
, a devout Muslim—may he rest in peace and be forgiven
—Es-May the Fātiha
be recited for the soul of
Seyyid ‘Osmân Ağa. Year 1217
, on the 15th of Sha‘bān.”
