Classical-era Ottoman gardens

Abstract

This paper describes the form and function of the classical era (1574- 1603) Ottoman gardens in and around Istanbul, in particular the imperial gardens. The sources used to provide first-hand information regarding these gardens are travel literature compiled by Europeans in Istanbul, the Seyahatname of Evliya Çelebi, Ottoman documents issued by the central government and Ottoman artwork, especially miniatures produced in the Topkapi palace nakkaşhane and ceramic tiles. During the Ottoman classical era, gardening was a well established and respected art form practiced by a number of specialized guilds as well as amateur plant breeders. Gardens were functional as well as decorative. The royal gardens produced goods for consumption at the palace. Ottoman political ceremonies were often held in a garden setting. The sultans and the elite also used gardens for private evenings of entertainment centered on wine drinking and poetry. Knowledge of garden form was spread throughout Ottoman society through the arts and the proliferation of mesaire along the Bosphorus. It is more difficult, however, to generalize about form. The impressions left by the Ottomans do not necessarily provide a visual snapshot of their gardens. These impressions more readily describe the ideal they hoped their gardens projected.