Şehzade Mahmud Tomb
About the Person:
- Şehzade Mahmud was a son of Ottoman Sultan Mehmed III.
- He was killed during the power struggles and political intrigues that marked the final years of his father’s reign.
- Both his and his mother’s deaths occurred in 1603, a time characterized by intense rivalry and unrest within the Ottoman court.
- His death is generally understood to have been part of a broader dynastic conflict.
About the Tomb:
Construction Year: 1603
Ordered by: Ottoman Dynasty
Architect: Unknown
Prominent Features:
- The tomb has a hexagonal plan. It was originally designed as an open-air tomb supported by six connected columns and topped with a dome.
- It was later enclosed to form a covered structure. In front of the eastern, low-arched entrance door stand two polygonal columns—likely remnants of the original portico.
- Each corner features polygonal columns supporting pointed arches.
- The lower part includes rectangular windows with iron grilles; above them are arched window spaces framed by finely dressed stone masonry.
- The walls are clad in marble and the dome is covered with lead.
- Much of the original interior decoration has been damaged or lost over time.
