Three Women, Three Dârüşşifâs, Three Taç Kapıs

Abstract

In the process of Anatolia being adopted as a homeland by the Turks, an intensive construction activity started. In addition to houses where people could shelter, religious buildings such as mosques, masjids, and tombs, madrasas where scientific studies were carried out, caravanserais where merchants and travelers could stay, ribats used for military purposes, and dârüşşifâ (The name given to hospitals in the Middle Ages in Islamic civilization) where health education and services were provided were the structures built within the scope of construction activities. In these buildings, traces of female founders (bâni) can be seen, although not as much as male constructives. The fact that women in the Turkish tradition occupy important positions compared to other societies, have a say in state administration, and even hold the highest position in the hierarchy, when necessary, does not make it surprising that women are in the founding institution. The number of female founders, which was limited during the Seljuk period, increased even more during the Ottoman period. Philanthropic women, both members of the dynasty and commoners, built many buildings such as mosques, madrasas, dârüşşifâ, baths, and fountains, primarily in Istanbul, the holy lands, and almost everywhere in the Ottoman lands. These buildings were built through foundations established by women founders with their income and their expenses were covered by these foundations. The buildings built during the Seljuk and Ottoman Periods were built with care not only in terms of their functions but also in terms of beauty. The buildings built by female founders were not inferior to the works built by male patrons in terms of functionality, monumentality, and decoration. The fact that three of the seven hospitals that have survived from the Anatolian Seljuk Period to the present day without being destroyed were built by female founders shows that women gave importance to public health and contributed to medical science. This article analyzes these three dârüşşifas built by women in the 13th and 14th centuries. These hospitals are Gevher Nesibe, Divriği and Amasya Dârüşşifas. After presenting information about the locations of these dârüşşifas, the dates of their construction, and their founders, information, and rumors about the purposes of their construction are given. After discussing the plan and material features of the dârüşşifas, the ornamental features of their portals are evaluated.