Description of the attraction
The fountain, located in front of the Baba Hyumayun gate of the Topkapi Palace, was built in 1728-1729 by order of Ahmed III, the reformist sultan of the "tulip era", on the site of the Byzantine Perayton fountain. This architectural masterpiece was erected in the Ottoman Baroque style and well underlines the European influence on classical Ottoman architecture. The fountain of Sultan Ahmed III was originally located in Uskudar Square opposite the pier. This unusual building with a gabled roof covers an area of 10x10 meters. It was built on the seashore so that travelers sailing along the Bosphorus could quench their thirst. Earlier, on religious holidays, as well as during Ramadan, sherbet was distributed free of charge to city residents at the walls of the fountain.
On the main facade of the building, you can read the admonition of Ahmed III: "Pray for Khan Ahmed and drink this water after saying your prayers." The fountain of Sultan Ahmed III has been relocated to its current location as a result of renovations. The structure, with a prism-shaped basin in the center with eight faces, consists of sebils (charitable fountains) and side fountains located at the corners. The main structure is installed on a platform with a two-step ladder. The design is highly aesthetically pleasing due to architectural elements such as plant motifs, muqarnases (convex finishing), canopies, niches and borders. In addition, medallions with the inscription "Mashallah" and motifs depicting long graceful vases with bouquets of flowers are an indicator of high artistic skill. The wooden roof of the fountain is covered with lead, which protects the main part of the structure from the effects of sunlight and other environmental factors. Small domes are located above the fountain, and the ornaments on the wooden cornices give the roof an artistic value. The graceful vaults, beautifully decorated with tiles, original reliefs and a hinged roof give the building an unusual beauty and lightness. The stele of the fountain and the baits of Sultan Ahmed III located above the fountain, made of massive marble, were the property of Sultan Ahmed III, Grand Vizier Damad Ibrahim and Pasha Nevsehirli. They were painted in the Sulusi script and were mentioned more than once by famous poets of that time such as Shakir, Nadim and Rahim.
Nowadays, the fountain is located at the crossroads of the densely populated Pashalimani and Hakimieti Millie avenues and is rightfully called one of the most beautiful fountains in Istanbul.
