“Who rests here?” It’s a question that echoes within the grounds of Kağıthane Mezarlığı. This Muslim cemetery in Istanbul holds stories of lives lived. Kağıthane Mezarlığı is located in the Hamidiye neighborhood of the Kağıthane district.
Kağıthane itself has a rich history. Once called Pissa in the Byzantine era, it was located by the Barbyzes Stream. This stream is now known as the Kağıthane Stream. When the Ottomans ruled Istanbul, Kağıthane became a popular recreation area.
The Tulip Era saw Kağıthane rise in importance. Grand Vizier İbrahim Paşa built the Sadabad Palace for the Sultan near the river. Soon, about 170 pavilions and palaces lined the Kağıthane Stream.
The history of Kağıthane goes back as far as Istanbul itself. The Golden Horn and especially the Kağıthane Stream area have been significant since Byzantine times. Kağıthane’s name has always been linked to the Golden Horn. Before Byzantium, the first settlement on the Golden Horn was near where the Alibeyköy and Kağıthane streams meet.
Kağıthane first appeared in history in 626 AD. During the Avar siege of Istanbul, the Avar Khan stationed his troops in Kağıthane. He built a fleet of boats at the mouth of the Kağıthane stream. Patricius Bonus, defending Istanbul, destroyed this fleet in a surprise attack.
Some sources claim a paper mill existed here long ago. They say a mill was present during the conquest of Istanbul and operated until the reign of II. Beyazid. Evliya Çelebi noted a ruined paper mill in the Kağıthane area in the 17th century. After the conquest, Kağıthane supplied vegetables and milk to the palace and Istanbul’s residents.
Kağıthane’s beauty impressed Kanuni Sultan Süleyman. He often visited to hunt and relax. He had the stone gunpowder mill built by II. Beyazid renovated. Because of its abundant water, Kağıthane became a recreation spot. It also served as a meeting place and industrial area. From the 15th century, Kağıthane was a beloved entertainment destination for centuries.
In those years, Kağıthane featured tulip fields, pools, fountains and colorful pavilions. These gardens and mansions led to much gossip. The extravagant parties caused discontent. These sights and structures, immortalized in literature, were destroyed during the Patrona Halil Revolt. Kağıthane’s entertainment season was in the spring. From Hıdırellez onward, people flocked here by boat and carriage on holidays.
Along the Kağıthane and Alibeyköy streams, the state allocated land to prominent figures. They built over 170 elegant pavilions and gardens, transforming Kağıthane into a summer resort. This collection of mansions, along with the Sadabad Palace and gardens, created a beautiful landscape stretching from the Golden Horn to Kağıthane village.
Kağıthane Mezarlığı is the final resting place for several notable figures. These include Alpaslan Dikmen, the founder of a Galatasaray fan group. Actresses Ayşen Aydemir, Hilal Esen, and Peri Han are also buried here. Actors Kazım Kartal, Tekin Siper, and Umut Demirdelen rest here. Also interred here is Tuncer Necmioğlu, a theater critic. Sami Şekeroğlu, an academic and director, was also buried here in 2024.
Kağıthane Mezarlığı connects us to the district’s past. It reminds us that even in a rapidly developing area, history remains etched in the land and in memory. Take a moment to reflect on the lives that have shaped this vibrant district of Istanbul.