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©The Archaeological Settlements of Turkey - TAY Project
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Büyükada Kadinlar Manastiri |
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For site maps and drawings please click on the picture...  |
For photographs please click on the photo...  |
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Type:
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Monastery |
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Plan Type:
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Year of Costruction:
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573 - 574 |
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Phase:
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Early Middle |
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Investigation Method:
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Survey |
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Altitude:
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5 |
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Region:
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Marmara |
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Province:
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Istanbul |
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District:
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Adalar |
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Village:
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Büyükada |
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Antique Name:
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Principos |
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| Location: It is located on a land slightly inclining toward the sea below the Selvi Climb in the Maden Neighbourhood of Büyükada (Prinkipos Island) in the Adalar District of Istanbul. The remains are at the location of the present day Kayikhane to the west of Nakibey Beach, at Nakibey Ramp to the east of Maden Quarter. |
| Geography and Environment: During the Byzantine Period, there was a group of buildings constructed for exiled women and people who exiled themselves. The monastery complex, which included a refectory, a library, watch towers, cisterns, dormitories and a pier on the shore, consists of some vaulted ruins of unidentified buildings at present [Mamboury 1920a:205]. Most of the ruins have disappeared during the road construction. Today, the land of the monastery has been occupied by a private boathouse, a house and a beach. |
| Research and Excavation: The last survey on the monastery was carried out by E. Mamboury who traveled the region in 1916 when it was relatively in good condition. E. Özbayoglu initiated a survey including all of the Prince's Islands in 1999. |
| Description: Building Phases: The original construction dates back to 573-574. It was, later on, restored and enlarged by the Empress Irene during the 8th century. Architectural Features: It is indicated that the monastery used to cover an area of 250 square meters along the seashore, and it extended to both sides like wings. The sanctuary was situated at the center with rooms on the southern and northern wings with an angle of 70 degrees [Mamboury 1920a:205; Janin 1924:350]. At present, only a few ruins of vaults made using bricks and stones are extant. |
| Finds: |
| Interpretation: |
| Destruction: Very few remains of monastery survived until present. A very small section of the monastery's south wall survived. A house was built on this wall. This wall is only visible below the house's balcony. It is observed that this wall continues eastwards after being interrupted by the road. The walls also continue in the garden of the house nr 17, to the east [TAYEx 10.09.2008]. |
