Sekbanbaşı Mosque

Sekbanbaşı Mosque was a mosque located in the Ottoman capital of Constantinople (modern-day Istanbul). It was originally a Byzantine church.[1] According to the writings of Hafiz Hüseyin al-Ayvansarayî (Hadîkatü’l-cevâmi‘), the original Byzantine church had been converted by İbrahim Ağa (died 1496–7), the lieutenant of the Ottoman sekban regiments (sekbanbaşı).[1] The building was located in Kendir Sokağı, in the Kırkçeşme quarter (Fatih district), near the ancient aqueduct of Roman Emperor Valens.[1]

The mosque in 1877

In 1838, the mosque was damaged by a fire, but underwent some restorations.[1] In 1918, during the final few years of the Ottoman Empire, the mosque and the surrounding neighborhood were once again hit by a fire.[2] This time, the mosque did not undergo reparations and was gradually abandoned.[2] The heavily damaged fundament of the mosque was then completely torn down in 1943 as the Turkish government wanted to enlarge the Atatürk Boulevard.[2] In 1954, the soil on which the mosque stood was completely cleared as apartment blocks were being built on it.[2] Today, nothing extant of the mosque remains.[2] However, just prior to its complete demolition, a hurried excavation was carried out by Semavi Eyice, which unearthed some of the substructures of the Sekbanbaşı Mosque.[2] These substructures were examined and surveyed on the spot.[2]