Şeyh Galip Tomb
About the Person:
- Mehmed Esad, known as Şeyh Galib, is considered the last great representative of 19th-century Ottoman divan poetry. He received his education at the Yenikapı Mevlevi Lodge, completed his spiritual training (çile) in Konya, and returned to Istanbul, where he became the sheikh of the Galata Mevlevi Lodge. He is most famous for his symbolic and mystical mathnawi titled *Hüsn ü Aşk*. During the reign of Sultan Selim III, he gained significant recognition and made profound contributions to the cultural and artistic life of Istanbul. A multifaceted figure, Şeyh Galib was also skilled in music and calligraphy. He passed away in 1799.
About the Tomb:
Construction Year: 1812–1819
Ordered by: Halet Mehmet Sait Efendi
Mimar: Unknown
Prominent Features:
- Rectangular in plan and constructed from cut küfeki stone.
- Covered with a vaulted ceiling and topped with a finial in the form of a Mevlevi sikke (dervish cap).
- Illuminated by large windows with iron grilles.
- In addition to Şeyh Galib, the tomb also houses other sheikhs of the Galata Mevlevi Lodge: Şeyh İsa Efendi, Şeyh Selim Efendi, Şeyh Mehmed Ruhi Dede, and İsmail Ankaravi Efendi.
- A cistern from the former St. Theodore Monastery lies beneath the tomb.
- Today, the tomb is located in the cemetery of the Divan Literature Museum and can be viewed from outside.
