Person in the Tomb
Benlizade Ahmet Reşit Efendi was one of the scholars and statesmen of the Sultan Abdülhamid I period.
He undertook important duties in the Ottoman scholarly class in the late 18th century and held high-ranking positions such as the Judge of Mecca and the Anatolian Kazasker.
Known for his philanthropic identity, Reşit Efendi had various structures built in the field of education and foundation services.
About the Mausoleum
- Year Built
- Commissioned By
- Architect
- Location
Featured Highlights
Although the complex was originally known as Benlizade Madrasa, only the tomb and fountain structures have survived to the present day.
The buildings were built in 1777, and its foundation remained in the Benlizade family until 1974; then it was transferred to the Directorate General of Foundations.
The tomb was planned as a square-plan, single-storey, interconnected masonry complex with a baroque-influenced architecture, without a mosque, in accordance with the fashion of the period.
The entrance is in the form of a corridor covered with a barrel vault. There is a small cemetery to the right of the entrance.
There are elaborate hand-drawn decorations inside the tomb. Since the Oddish stone jambs on the fountain, tomb and facade walls were damaged over time, they were rebuilt with the same dimensions during restoration.
Some windows on the south facade were closed with bricks.
The extensive restoration work that started in 2020 was completed in 2022.
