Person in the Tomb
Destari Mustafa Paşa was an important statesman who held various positions in the Ottoman state during the reign of Sultan Ahmed I (1603–1617).
He was educated in Enderun, served as a imrahor (responsible for Sultan’s horses), beylerbey, grand vizier district governor, dome vizier and vizier. The Paşa, who was a son-in-law in the palace, died in 1614.
The fact that he had his tomb built while he was alive is remarkable in terms of both his wealth and religious sensitivity.
About the Mausoleum
- Year Built
- Commissioned By
- Architect
- Location
Featured Highlights
The tomb was built with cut stone and has a rectangular plan.
The upper cover consists of a dome sitting on a protruding octagonal drum; there are mirror vaults on the sides.
There are two rows of windows on the street-facing facade; the lower rows are rectangular, and the upper ones are eyebrow arched.
A visitor section with three columns and a flat roof was added later, attached to the entrance.
There are two inscriptions, one of 20 lines placed on the façade and the other of 12 lines at the entrance.
The interior walls and windows are decorated with İznik tiles; pomegranate flowers, palmettes and curved branch motifs are seen in blue, green, red and turquoise colors on a white background.
It is understood from the traces that there are hand-drawn decorations inside the dome, on the pendentives and on the vaults.
