Beyazıt Square

Othmar Pferschy, “Beyazıt Square” (also known as “Hürriyet Meydanı”) black & white photograph, 1930, published by Oğuz Topoğlu

Beyazıt Square, also known as Hürriyet Meydanı (Freedom Square), is in the center of the Old City of Istanbul. The Beyazid II Mosque, seen on the right side of this 1930’s photography by Othmar Pferschy, gives the square its name. Originally the site housed the ruins of Forum of Theodosuis built by Constantine the Great. Later it was occupied by the outer courtyard of sultan Beyazid’s mosque, which was demolished in the early 19^th century as part of the Ottoman urbanization projects. Famous traveler Evliya Çelebi designated this courtyard of the mosque with the word harem, which was probably in a rectangular form according to Yeşilkaya. The gate on the left side of the photograph is the entrance to Istanbul University today, replacing the mid-19^th century Gate of Seraskerlik to the modern Army Headquarters. The square has been the site of many events in the 20^th century, notably the 1915 hanging of 20 Armenian activists and the 1978 terrorist attack targeting left-wing students.