İzmir Clockmakers

                                                      

Knowing the time and planning the day is quite easy for modern people. Our smartphones and smart or mechanical watches allow us to know the time whenever we want. But how would we know the time if these devices didn't exist? Before mechanical watches became widespread, how did people know the time, and how did they schedule their daily lives, prayer times, sahur or iftar times?

Certainly, muvakkithanes fulfilled this need. Derived from the word “vakit“ (time), the "muvakkithane" was a place where time calculations were performed using astronomical instruments of the era. The needs of social life, commercial relations, and especially the fact that places of worship were located in different geographical regions, at different latitudes and longitudes, and that sunrise and sunset varied according to specific times of the year, created a need for separate observation and calculation for determining prayer times and the direction of the qibla. In an era when mechanical clocks were not yet widespread, scientific studies conducted in muvakkithanes tracked the position of the sun and moon, determined the time, and aimed to accurately and precisely establish and announce prayer, iftar, and sahur times to the public. For this reason, these places were known as small observatories.

Ottoman Astronomical Clock Miniature Paintings

The first muvakkithanes were built during the Mamluk period. From the 15th century onwards, the first muvakkithanes also began to spread in the Ottoman State, first in Istanbul and later in other cities. They were built as small buildings consisting of one or two rooms, either on the parts of mosques facing the road, in külliyes, or in busy squares, so that everyone could see them easily. With the widespread use of mechanical clocks in the 19th century, clock repair, maintenance, and servicing were added to their functions. Muvakkithanes, which were generally built on facades facing the road so that the public could easily see their announcements and clocks, had large windows. For this reason, muvakkithanes were commonly called “türbe önü” (in front of the tomb) or “saathane” (clock house) among the public.

Individuals who worked in muvakkithanes and were responsible for time calculations were called “muvakkit.” The word “muvakkit,” meaning "one who determines the time," referred to individuals who had completed madrasa education and had a strong grasp of mathematics, geometry, trigonometry, and astronomy, fields requiring religious knowledge and numerical intelligence. Muvakkits prepared calendars by using astronomical instruments to depict all months and seasons of the year in tabular form. They also determined the times for the five daily prayers and, before the month of Ramadan, prepared calendars called "imsakiye" showing the times for sahur, prayer, and iftar, which they would then hang on the outer wall of the muvakkithane for the public to see.

The quarter-board, astrolabe, sextant, octant, sundial, hourglass, armillary spheres, and calendars showing prayer, fasting, and imsak times, which were used in creating the muvakkithane's calendar, were found.

Muvakkits, who conducted their work in mosques in the bustling bazaar centers, busy streets, and central squares, thus aroused curiosity and also served to increase the public's interest in fields such as astronomy, geography, and mathematics. The number of muvakkithanes in Ottoman cities continuously increased until the reign of Abdülhamid II, and from this period onwards, their importance diminished due to the increase in the construction of clock towers and the widespread use of mechanical clocks throughout the country. As Ahmet Hamdi Tanpınar said, they transformed into the “Institute for the Adjustment of Clocks.”.

 Archive and Field Studies in Our Research

My students, Duru Meriç Yağcı, Selin Şavkal, and Utku Çetin, who are studying at İzmir Övgü Terzibaşıoğlu Anatolian High School, are curious about research and sensitive to their surroundings, the historical and cultural fabric of their city, and especially the preservation of cultural heritage. This book inspired them to conduct such research. As a result of literature reviews, fieldwork, many interviews, and efforts to raise awareness through social media, they also designed a virtual museum.

You can find detailed information about their projects and work at the following link: https://izmirmuvakkithaneleri.netlify.app/  

Virtual Museum: https://metasteps.com/viewer/ffff06d4-c6b3-4718-bcaa-6e20110872fe

In our research, we determined that there are three muvakkithanes in our city. Two of them are in the Hisar Mosque and Şadırvanaltı Mosque in Kemeraltı, İzmir's most important commercial center for centuries, and one is in the Yavukluoğlu Kulliye in Tire.

Hisar Astrolabe Chamber The muvakkithane, which is within the Hisar Mosque, was built in the last quarter of the 19th century along with the fountain in the mosque courtyard during the construction of Hisar Mosque in 1591. The muvakkithane, which is a single-story, one-room, rectangular building located just west of the mosque's northern entrance, had its interior facade plastered with gypsum. The elements that enlivened the rather simple muvakkithane included decorations on the columns and reliefs made of gypsum on the interior facade. This historic structure is seen to have one window facing the road. The original clock on the outer wall of the muvakkithane, dating from the 19th century and still attracting attention today, is double-sided. One side is designed with Roman numerals, and the other side with Arabic numerals. Considering that Hisar Mosque is the largest mosque in İzmir, it is highly probable that prayer times for İzmir were announced from this mosque.

 Hisar Watchtower

Şadırvan (Şadırvanaltı - Bıyıklıoğlu - Niflizade) Clockmaker's Shop:  The Şadırvanaltı Mosque, which houses the muvakkithane, was built in 1636 by Bıyıklıoğlu Mahmut Bey using dressed stone and brick. The muvakkithane and library are located on the west side of the mosque, directly above the şadırvan, positioned in an octagonal shape on eight columns. This library and muvakkithane is one of the most original and unique architectural structures in Anatolia. Access to the second floor is gained via a staircase on the south side of the şadırvan. Upon exiting the staircase, the mosque is on the right, while the library and muvakkithane are on the left.

The Şadırvanaltı Timekeeping Office

Yavukluoğlu (Yogurtluoglu) Observatory: The Yavukluoğlu Astronomical Clock Tower, established in Tire, is located at the northwestern end of the Yavukluoğlu Complex, which was built by Mehmet Bey in 1442. Since there is no inscription belonging to the Yavukluoğlu Complex, the architect of the complex and the astronomical clock tower is unknown. In addition to the astronomical clock tower, there are classrooms for madrasah students, a soup kitchen, a bathhouse, and a library on the east and west sides of the complex courtyard.
although it is located within the mosque's boundaries, the hammam section has been excluded as of today.

Tire Yavukluoğlu Complex and Astronomical Clock Tower

We reported these studies as a project with my students and participated in the TÜBİTAK 2204-A High School Students Research Projects Competition. In the evaluation, we received the Aegean Region second place award. Our wish is for these muvakkithanes, which met an important societal need by calculating time for hundreds of years in the city memory of Izmir but were defeated by time, to be transformed into a museum by being equipped with astronomical instruments in accordance with their original state. The transfer of these buildings to their original state to the future and the strengthening of city memory will be a significant gain.

                                                                                                          
Gonca Tire / History Teacher
Övgü Terzibaşıoğlu Anatolian High School