Eğrikapı Çeşmesi

Across the bustling streets of Istanbul, nestled near Eğrikapı, lies the Eğrikapı Çeşmesi. This unassuming fountain holds a story more intricate than its simple facade suggests. Eğrikapı Çeşmesi is also known as Hatice Sultan Çeşmesi or Avcı Bey Çeşmesi. It stands as a testament to 18th-century Ottoman craftsmanship. Its location, opposite Eğrikapı gate, places it at a crossroads of history. The fountain’s basin, sadly, now sits below street level. Its waters no longer flow. Yet, the presence of the carved cup holder hints at a time when it quenched the thirst of passersby. The classic Ottoman fountain architecture is still visible. It whispers stories of a bygone era. Interestingly, Eğrikapı Çeşmesi is connected to a larger structure known as Eğrikapı Maksemi. This structure, essentially a water distribution center, once regulated the flow of water from the Kırkçeşme springs. This water flowed through the city walls in two branches. One branch passed through Eğrikapı, the other through Sulukule. The maksem’s inscription reveals its restoration in 1786-87 by the water controller, Mustafa Ağa. Another inscription claims its original construction during the reign of Süleyman the Magnificent. This detail suggests a possible connection to the architect Acem Ali, a predecessor of the famous Mimar Sinan. The maksem also supplied water to the Eyüp region before the Eyüp Maksemi was built. The Eğrikapı Çeşmesi on the maksem wall provided access to the water within. The fountain’s rectangular frame and fluted cornerstones bear witness to the meticulous artistry of the period. The faint, weathered reliefs on the ayna taşı, the fountain’s central stone, and the small niches flanking it, speak of its former glory. Though the tap is now gone, imagine the gentle trickle of water into the trough below. The trough itself, bearing the marks of time, resembles a repurposed Byzantine sarcophagus, adding another layer of historical intrigue.