Kara Ahmed Paşa Tomb
About the Person:
- Kara Ahmet Paşa was an important Ottoman statesman who served as grand vizier during the reign of Suleiman the Magnificent.
- He was of Albanian origin and was educated in the palace school (Enderun). After his duty as Chief Gatekeeper, he became the Janissary Agha in 1520, then the Rumelia Beylerbey and in 1522, he was appointed as the Grand Vizier.
- He married Fatma Sultan, the daughter of Sultan Selim I, and became a son-in-law in the palace. He participated in the Hungary, Iran, Georgia and Timisoara campaigns, and received the titles of “Serdar” and “Gazi” for his successes in these campaigns. Although he was loved by the people, he was strangled to death in 1555 as a result of the intrigues of Hurrem Sultan, in order to pave the way for Rüstem Paşa.
About the Tomb:
Construction Year: 1554 – 1571
Ordered by: Kara Ahmet Pasha’s wife Fatma Sultan
Architect: Mimar Sinan
Prominent Features:
- The tomb has a hexagonal external and dodecagonal internal plan and was built of cut limestone.
- The double dome system unique to Mimar Sinan was used.
- It is illuminated by lower and upper windows, and honeycomb networks and pointed arches are preferred in the upper windows.
- The entrance gate is made of red and white stone, has alternating arches, and has a rectangular inscription with the inscription “Kelime-i Tevhid” (en: There is no god but Allah and Muhammad is His Messenger) on it.
- Plain hand-drawn works with grape clusters and leaf motifs can be seen hanging from the dome.
