Seyahatname or “Book of Travels.” The original manuscript languished in Cairo
until it was brought to. İstanbul in 1742, where it was copied and studied.
MEMORY OF THE WORLD REGISTER The Evliya Çelebi’s “Book of Travels” (in the Topkapı Palace Museum Library and the Süleymaniye Manuscript Library) (Turkey) 2012-24
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SUMMARY Evliya Çelebi (1611 – c. 1685) was born in İstanbul, traveled the length and breadth of the
Ottoman Empire as well as some neighboring regions, and died in Egypt after writing his huge Seyahatname or “Book of Travels.” The original manuscript languished in Cairo until it was brought to İstanbul in 1742, where it was copied and studied. The manuscript of the Seyahatname originally consisted of ten books in five volumes (two books per volume). These ten “books” have traditionally been referred to as “volumes”. The Austrian scholar and diplomat Joseph von Hammer hit upon a manuscript as early as 1804 and began to publish excerpts and translations from it in 1814. Publication of the Ottoman Turkish text proceeded haphazardly between 1896 and 1938. For most of the twentieth century this publication was the source of scholarship on the Seyahatname, including many translations into modern Turkish and other languages. In recent years have there been attempts to publish critical editions of the work. The most recent and complete publication is the İstanbul edition sponsored by the Yapı Kredi Bank (YKY). Another project is the Brill series, edited by Klaus Kreiser. These volumes each include a transcription of the Turkish text (Bağdat and Revan) with an English or German translation on the facing page, plus annotation. The following have appeared: Martin van Bruinessen and Hendrick Boeschoten 1988 (Diyarbekir, from Book 4); Robert Dankoff 1990 (Bitlis, from Books 4 and 5); Korkut Buğday 1996 (central Anatolia, from Book 3); Nuran Tezcan 1999 (Manisa, fromBook 9); Dankoff and Robert Elsie 2000 (Albania, from Books 5, 6 and 8) and Nurettin Gemici 1999 (Medina, from Book 9). Outside the Brill series, but following the same format, is Bulut 1997 (Bitlis to Van, from Book 4). Translations (other than Turkish) are the following: Albanian: Elsie 2008; Arabic: Ḥarb 2006; Armenian: Safrastyan 1967; Bulgarian: Dimitrov 1972; English: Hammer 1834, 1846, 1850; Stephan 1935-42; Pallis 1951; de Gaury 1951; MacKay; 1969, 1995; Livingston 1970; Bruinessen and Boeschoten 1988; Dankoff 1990, 1991, 1996; Crane 1993; MacKay 1995; Dankoff and Elsie 2000; Dankoff 2004; Dankoff and Kim 2010; French: Bacqué-Grammont 1999, etc.; Bilici 2000; Georgian: Puturidze 1971, 1973; German: Menzel 1911; Köhler 1928; Kreutel 1957; Turková 1965, 1973; Haarmann 1976;Buğday 1996; Bulut 1997; Prokosch 1994, 2000; Tezcan 1999; Hillebrand 2010;
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Greek: Pallis 1941; Mpirēs 1959; Demetriades 1973; Loupis 1994; Hungarian: Karácson 1904, 1908; Italian: Rocchi 2008; Polish: Abrahamowicz et. al. 1969; Romanian: Alexandrescu-Dersca and Mehmed 1976; Russian: Tveritinova and Želtjakov et. al. 1961, 1979, 1983; Bahrevskiy 1999; Serbian: Šabanovic 1979; Slovak: Kopčan 1978.
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DETAILS OF THE NOMINATOR
2.1
Name The nomination is a joint decision of,
The General Directorate of Cultural Heritage And Museums, Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Republic of Turkey
2.2
Ministry of Culture and Tourism, National Library of Turkey
The Turkish National Commission for UNESCO.
Relationship to the documentary heritage nominated
The General Directorate of Cultural Heritage and Museums, is in charge of the administration of museums within the domain of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism in Turkey. The Topkapi Palace Museum as an important part of the cultural heritage of Turkey, is also under the administration of the General Directorate of Cultural Heritage and Museums.
National Library of Turkey is in charge of the administration of the Süleymaniye Manuscript Library within the domain of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism in Turkey.
The relation of the Turkish National Commission for UNESCO for the nomination process is through the Memory of the World Register Specialized Committee.
2.3
Contact person (s) As the nomination is a joint decision of the parties mentioned above, the contact persons are: Mr Osman Murat Süslü - The General Director of Cultural Heritage And Museums, The Ministry of Culture and Tourism Mrs. Ayşe Erdoğdu - The Director of Topkapı Palace Museum, The Ministry of Culture and Tourism Mr. Tuncel Acar- The Director of National Library of Turkey, The Ministry of Culture and Tourism
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Mr. Ömer Kuzgun-The Director of The Süleymaniye Manuscript Library, The Ministry of Culture and Tourism Prof. Dr. Haluk Şükrü Akalın- The Head of the Memory of the World Register Specialized Committee, Turkish National Commission for UNESCO.
2.4
Contact details (include address, phone, fax, email)
● The General Directorate of Cultural Heritage And Museums Tel : + 90 312 310 49 60 Fax : + 90 312 311 66 03 e-mail:
[email protected] ● Topkapı Palace Museum Tel : + 90 212 512 04 80 , 81, 82, 83, 84 Fax: + 90 212 528 59 91 e-mail:
[email protected] ● National Library of Turkey Tel : + 90 312 212 62 00 Fax : + 90 312 223 04 51 e-mail :
[email protected] ● The Süleymaniye Manuscript Library Tel : + 90 212 520 64 60 Fax: +90 212 511 22 10 e-mail :
[email protected]
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IDENTITY AND DESCRIPTION OF THE DOCUMENTARY HERITAGE
3.1
Name and Identification: The Evliya Çelebi’s Seyahatname in the Topkapi Palace Museum
Library Owner: The General Directorate of Cultural Heritage and Museums, Ministry of Culture and Tourism, The Republic of Turkey Address: T.B.M.M. II Ulus 06543/Ankara Custodian: The Directorate of the Topkapı Palace Museum Address: Sultanahmet Fatih 34122-İstanbul/TURKEY Name and Identification: The Evliya Çelebi’s Seyahatname in the Süleymaniye Manuscript Library
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Owner: The National Library, Ministry of Culture and Tourism, The Republic of Turkey Address: Bahçelievler Son Durak, 06490- Ankara/TURKEY Custodian: The Directorate of Turkish Manuscripts, Address: Süleymaniye Yazma Eser Kütüphanesi, 34116, Fatih -İstanbul/TURKEY 3.2
Description The manuscript of the Seyahatname originally consisted of ten books in five volumes (two
books per volume). The following manuscript series have been recognized: S [autograph, 1680s]: Bağdat 304 (Books 1 and 2) Bağdat 305 (Books 3 and 4) Bağdat 307 (Book 5) Revan 1457 (Book 6) Bağdat 308 (Books 7 and 8) [Books 9 and 10: lost] P [based on S; 1742]: Pertev Paşa 458-462 (Books 1-10) Q [based on S; 1742]: Beşir Ağa 448-452 (Books 1-10) Y [formerly Yıldız; based on S; 1751] Bağdat 306 (Book 9) İÜTY 5973 (Book 10) K [based on P; 1765]: Kiel, ORI 385-387 [formerly Tschudi mss.] (Books 1-3) Vienna, H.O.193 (Book 4) Revan 1458-1460 (Books 7-9) Hamidiye 963 (Book 10) T [based on Q; date?*] İÜTY 5939 (Books 1 and 2) Bağdat 300-303 (Books 3-10) * colophon gives 1155/1742, the date of Q W [based on ?; 1740s?] Vienna, Cod Mixt 1382 (Book 1) H [based on P?; 1752?] London, RAS 22-23 (Books 1-4) G [based on ?; 1814] Manchester, Rylands 142 (Books 4-5) Franz Taeschner is the first researcher who started discussion of the problem of the manuscripts (1922). The current sigla for the Istanbul mss. were assigned by Kilisli Rifat (1928). Kreutel showed that S is the archetype for all the other manuscripts and suggested that it is the
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autograph (1972). MacKay presented the classic study of S (1975). Dankoff surveys the textual problems posed in establishing a critical edition . This is the longest and fullest travel account in Islamic literature-perhaps in world literature. In spite of the gigantic scope of the work Evliya did attempt to give some shape to his account; and any analysis of the work’s structure has to begin with his more or less explicit efforts to do so. Schematic Outline of the Seyahatname: I. Dream: 19 August 1630 (10 Muharrem 1040, i.e. his 20th birthday).Historical and geographical survey of Istanbul. Up and down the Golden Horn and the Bosphoros. Shops; parade of guilds. II. Dream (reprisal). Beginning of travels: 27 April 1640 (5 Muharrem1050, i.e., just before his 30th birthday): Bursa; returns and gets his father’s blessing. Trabzon; gazas in Caucasus and Crimea. Crete: Canea campaign. Erzurum; Azerbaijan. Celalis; Varvar Ali Pasha. Istanbul 1648: deposal of Sultan Ibrahim and janissary revolt. The saga of Kara Haydaroğlu III. Syria. Istanbul 1650: vizierate of Melek Ahmed Pasha. Rumelia. Istanbul 1653–55: vizierate of Ipshir Pasha; Melek Pasha “exiled” to Van; Evliya’s escape. IV. Van and Bitlis. Azerbaijan, Mesopotamia. → Mosul. V. Return to Van; escape from Bitlis. Istanbul 1656. Özü. İstanbul 1658: death of Kaya Sultan. With Köprülü against the Celalis. Wallachia, Moldavia, and Transylvania campaigns. Bosnia. The saga of Seydi Ahmed Pasha. VI. Istanbul 1662: Melek Pasha’s death. Hungary. Abandonment of Yenikal'e. VII. Battle on the Raab (St. Gotthard) 1664. With Kara Mehmed Pasha to Vienna 1665. Crimea, Circassia, Kalmukia. → Azov. VIII. Istanbul 1667. Greece. Crete: Candia campaign. Albania. Istanbul 1670. IX. Aegean and Mediterranean coast. The Holy Land. The Hajj. → Cairo. X. Cairo 1672: Historical and geographical survey. Shops and guilds. Down the Nile: the Delta. Up the Nile: Sudan and Abyssinia. → Cairo. 3.3 Bibliographic/Registration Details The volumes are registered to the inventory numbers B.304, B.305, B.307, B.308 and R. 1457 in the Topkapi Palace Museum Manuscripts Library. B. 304 : Book I and II-31x22cm.-374 folios B. 305: Book III and IV-32x22cm.-408 folios B. 307: Book V-30.8x20.5cm.-187 folios R. 1457: Book VI-31x21cm. 188 folios B. 308 : VII-VIII-31x21cm. 383 folios
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There are 3 manuscripts in the Süleymaniye Manuscript Library : (Hacı Beşir Ağa) 00448- 00449- 00450- 00451- 00452 (10 Books-two Books in each number) (Pertev Paşa) 00458- 00459- 00460- 00461- 00462 (Five Books) (Hamidiye) 00963 (One Book)
References to the Seyahatname References to Books I–VIII are to the autograph ms. as follows: Bağdat 304 Books I and II Bağdat 305 Books III and IV Bağdat 307 Book V Revan 1457 Book VI Bağdat 308 Books VII and VIII Reference to Book IX (= Pertev Paşa 462). Reference to Book X (= Beşir Ağa 452). 3.4 History Evliya Çelebi’s Seyahatname or “Book of Travels” written in the 17th century is a vast panorama, both an extensive description of the Ottoman Empire and its hinterlands, and an account of the author’s peregrinations over roughly forty years (1640–80).
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JUSTIFICATION FOR INCLUSION/ ASSESSMENT AGAINST CRITERIA
4.1 Authentication Seyahatname is the longest and fullest travel account in Islamic literature—perhaps in world literature. Evliya Çelebi, travelled throughout the empire and into the surrounding regions in the 17th century. He also wrote a huge account of his travels, divided into ten “Books”. 4.2 Significance, Uniqueness and Irreplaceability Evliya Çelebi’s Seyahatname or “Book of Travels” is a vast panorama, both an extensive description of the Ottoman Empire and its hinterlands, and an account of the author’s peregrinations over roughly forty years (1640–80). Evliya Çelebi can serve as the typical (archetypal?) Ottoman, and his work, unwieldy as it may be, provides the materials for getting at Ottoman perceptions of the world, not only in obvious areas like geography, topography, administration, urban institutions, and social and economic systems, but also in such domains as religion, folklore, dream interpretation, and onceptions of the self.
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Evliya’s first aim was to provide a complete description of the Ottoman Empire and its hinterlands. In pursuing this aim, the spatial or topographical survey is the favorite mode. The town descriptions are the most characteristic literary unit of the work. They generally follow the same pattern, beginning with the history and administrative organization of the town, its names in various languages and their etymologies, and its geographic position; continuing with a description of the town’s topography, with particular attention to fortifications; including descripions of houses, mosques, medreses, schools, inns, baths, and fountains; town quarters and religious affiliations; climate; the appearance, dress, manners and customs of the populace; proper names and speech habits; the ulema, poets, physicians, and other notables; markets, shops, products, and comestables; and parks, gardens, and picnic-spots; and concluding with graves and shrines, along with biographies or hagiographies of the dead. During his travels Evliya passed by forty five countries which are Arabia, Albania, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Djibuti, Czech Republic, Chechenia, Dagistan, Armenia, Palestine, Georgia, Ethiopia, Croatia, Iraq, Iran, Israel, Kabartay, Kalmukistan, Montenegro, Crimea, Kosovo, Kuwait, Lebenon, Hungary, Macedonia, Egypt, Moldovia, Poland, Romania, Russia, Somalia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sudan, Syria, Tanzania, Tataristan, Ukraine, Jordan and Greece. His second aim was to provide a complete record of his travels. In pursuing this aim, the first-person account of his itineraries and adventures comes to the fore. It should be pointed out that Evliya Çelebi was very interested in the dialects and languages of the places he travelled. Seyahatname includes the countries in which 147 different languages were spoken and it also presents some information about these languages. It is very significant that Evliya Çelebi’s Seyahatname covers even some examples from the endangered and disappearing languages of today.
4.3(a) Time The original and copies of the manuscripts are thought to be written around the end of the 17th century.
4.3(b) Place Topkapi Palace Museum Istanbul Manuscript Library and The Süleymaniye Manuscript Libraryİstanbul/TURKEY
4.3(c) People Evliya Çelebi (1611 – c. 1685) was a Turk from İstanbul—which he invariably calls İslambol. His family had close ties to the Ottoman court. As he grew up, he explored all aspects of the metropolis with seemingly endless curiosity, and at the same time he eagerly imbibed tales and accounts of
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Süleyman’s far-flung conquests. He also received a thorough training in Islamic and Ottoman sciences and arts, especially Koran-recitation and music. As a young man he attracted the attention of the sultan (Murat IV) himself because of his fine voice and his entertaining manner. Later he attached himself to various pashas sent out to govern the provinces, and served them as boon-companion (“bonvivant”) and raconteur, as Koran-reciter and caller-to-prayer, and as courier, tax-collector, or deputy. At a certain point he defined his career as “travel.” He dubbed himself “World Traveler and Boon-Companion to Mankind”. And he decided to compile his jottings into a “book of travels” or Seyahatname which is the longest and fullest travel account in Islamic literature—perhaps in world literature.
4.3(d) Subject and Theme As mentioned before Evliya Çelebi travelled the 17th century’s Ottoman borders and the neighboring regions. In any place he arrived he tells anything about it mostly beginning with the history and administrative organization of the town, its names in various languages and their etymologies, and its geographic position; continuing with a description of the town’s topography, with particular attention to fortifications; including descripions of houses, mosques, medreses, schools, inns, baths, and fountains; town quarters and religious affiliations; climate; the appearance, dress, manners and customs of the populace; proper names and speech habits; the ulema, poets, physicians, and other notables; markets, shops, products, and comestables; and parks, gardens, and picnic-spots; and concluding with graves and shrines, along with biographies or hagiographies of the dead.
4.3(e) Form and style The manuscript of the Seyahatname originally consisted of ten books in five volumes (two books per volume). These ten “books” have traditionally been referred to as “volumes”. Copy with Inventory Number B. 304: It includes first and second volumes of the Seyahatname. This volumes are about İstanbul and around of it. It is sized by 31x22cm and it has 374 folios. Its dark brown leather binding has mıklep. Copy with Inventory Number B. 305 : It includes third and fourth volumes of the Seyahatname. This third volume is about the Damascus, Syria , Palestine , Urmiyah, Sivas, and Erzurum. Fourth volume is about Van, Tabriz, Baghdat and Basra. It is sized by 32x22cm and it has 408 folios. Its dark brown leather binding has mıklep. Copy with Inventory Number B. 307: It includes fifth volume of the Seyahatname.This volume is about Çanakkale, Edirne and around of them. It is sized by 30.8x20.5cm. and it has 187 folios. Its dark brown leather binding hasn't got mıklep.
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Copy with Inventory Number R. 1457: It includes sixth volume of the Seyahatname. This volume is about Hungary and around of it. It is sized by 31x21cm. and it has 188 folios. Its marbling covered binding has mıklep. Copy with Inventory Number B. 308: It includes seventh and eight volumes of the Seyahatname. This Seventh volume, is about Austria , Daghistan and Caucassian cities. The eight volume is about Crimea, Thessalonian and Crete.It is sized by 31x21cm. and it has 383 folios. Its dark brown leather binding has miklep. Copy with Inventory Number B. 303: It includes ninth and tenth volumes of the Seyahatname. This ninth volume is about İstanbul , Kütahya , Mediterranean , Southern Anatolia , Gaziantep , Mecca and Medina. The tenth volume is about Egypt , Sudan, Somalia and Ethiopia. It is sized by 35x22cm. and it has 601 folios. Its dark brown leather binding has miklep.
4.4(a) Rarity Firstly, Seyahatname is the longest and fullest travel account in Islamic literature and most probably in world literature. It reflects the culture of 45 countries 257 cities of the 17th century. This culture concept includes various qualities of those times’ life style such as the beliefs, the languages, the traditions, the physical appearance of the people, the architecture of the towns, rituals, political tendencies, etc. which are very significant for the researchers of today and future to reach the cultural history of the 17th century Ottoman mentality and also its neighboring regions from an original source.
4.4(b) Integrity The Evliya Çelebi's Seyahatname that consists of approximately 400 folios is formed successive 10 volumes. The most authentic Books of Seyahatname are at the Topkapı Palace Manuscript Library (8 Books) and at the Süleymaniye Manuscript Library (the others). 4.4(c) Threat Copies of Seyahatname are not taken off to the another environment from its familiar storage environment because of being unique objects and besides this there are several serious problems like having so much sensitivity due to be made onto parchment, damaging its condition due to affect from the changes of light , heat and humid. For that reason, high-quality facsimile and high-resolution digital images of the objects were made for helping the researchers. 4.4(d) Management
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There is no other usage than the usage for the scientific researches. There are digital images of the objects only at the Topkapı Palace Museum. And the researchers can use just these digital images for their researches. Objects can very rarely be loaned for exhibitions. The Süleymaniye manuscripts do not have digital images. They can be used for the exhibitions as long as the safety rules and insurance are provided.
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LEGAL INFORMATION
5.1
Owner of the documentary heritage Topkapı Palace Museum-The General Directorate of Cultural Heritage and Museums, Ministry of Culture and Tourism of Turkish Republic The Süleymaniye Manuscript Library- The Directorate of Turkish Manuscripts, National Library, Ministry of Culture and Tourism of Turkish Republic
5.2
Custodian of the documentary heritage (name and contact details, if different to owner) The Directorate of Topkapı Palace Museum Sultanahmet Fatih 34122-İstanbul/TURKEY Tel : + 90 212 512 04 80 , 81, 82, 83, 84 Fax: + 90 212 528 59 91 e-mail:
[email protected]
The Directorate of The Directorate of Turkish Manuscripts, Süleymaniye Manuscript Library Süleymaniye Yazma Eser Kütüphanesi 34116, Fatih -İstanbul/TURKEY Tel : + 90 212 520 64 60 Fax: +90 212 511 22 10 e-mail :
[email protected]
5.3
Legal status: (a) Category of ownership The Directorate of Topkapı Palace Museum is a public institution. The Directorate of Turkish Manuscripts, Süleymaniye Manuscript Library is a public institution.
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(b) Accessibility This object can be used at scientific researches with the permission of the Republic of Turkey Ministry of Culture, the General Directorate of Cultural Heritage and Museums according to the terms of reference named: "The Fundamentals and Modes of Usage of the Objects that Belong to the Public Establishments and the Institutions" that was published in the Official Gazette no: 19253 in the date 10.16.1996. (Topkapı Palace) Süleymaniye Manuscript Library gives permission of the Republic of Turkey Ministry of Culture, The Directorate of Turkish Manuscripts according to the terms of reference named : The Fundamentals and Modes of the Usage of the Manuscripts at the Culture and Tourism Manuscript Libraries that was published in the Official Gazette no 25074 in the date 19/4/2003. (c) Copyright status Copyright of this object belongs to the Topkapı Palace Museum. It is the subject of the terms of the The Copyright Law no: 4110 and dated 1995 and the directive about: Copying and Photo Shooting of the Objects that Exists in the Museums and Entities Related to the Museums and the Historical Sites. of 1995 no: 4110.
(d) Responsible administration
The Republic of Turkey Ministry of Culture and Tourism, The General Directorate of Cultural Heritage and Museums- Directorate of the Topkapı Palace Museum.
The Republic of Turkey Ministry of Culture and Tourism, National Library- The Directorate of Turkish Manuscripts, Süleymaniye Manuscript Library
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