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DADYAN EMERGES FROM BENEATH BALYAN
Baruyr Kuyumciyan 02.04.2015 19:51SOCIETY
The gravestone rendered illegible because it was left beneath Garabet
Balyan's gravestone has been identified as Simon Amira Dadyan's. Both
gravestones have been taken into preservation at the Archaeological
Museum to be returned to the Armenian community.
In the past weeks, the gravestone of Garabet Balyan, had been
discovered at an Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality construction
site in Soganlık, Kartal; and now the gravestone of Simon Amira
Dadyan, a member of another important family of the period, has
been discovered beneath it. The gravestones, which were discovered
when they came to the attention of a watchful and sensitive father
and son who live in Kartal, are being kept at the Archaeological
Museum pending return to the Armenian community. The discovery of
Garabet Balyan's gravestone had caused great interest and debate,
and the Metropolitan Municipality had assigned a special 24-hour
municipal police unit to protect the stones. Following the report
published in Agos, the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality and the
Istanbul Provincial Cultural Directorate took action, and Istanbul
Archaeological Museum officials took the gravestones from Kartal
to the Museum upon the order of the Directorate. An investigation
regarding the gravestones has also been launched.
Board will investigate
Speaking to Agos, Istanbul Archaeological Museum officials stated
that the gravestones were 'immovable cultural heritage assets' and
that the Cultural Heritage Preservation Board would carry out an
official examination. The report on the stones will be discussed as
part of the agenda of the first meeting of the Istanbul 5th Cultural
Heritage Preservation Board. The decision of the board will determine
the fate of the gravestones.
Patriarchate involved
On the other hand, the fate of other gravestones at the site, which
do not have immovable cultural heritage status, remains unclear. The
Patriarchate has also become involved regarding the gravestones of the
two figures that occupy a highly significant place in the history
of Istanbul Armenians. Following the meeting of the architects
of the Armenian Architects and Engineers Association (HAYCAR),
which is closely following developments, the decision was taken to
prepare and submit a petition for the return of the gravestones from
the Council of Monuments. The most appropriate institution for the
return of the gravestones is considered to be the BeÅ~_iktaÅ~_ Surp
Asdvadzadin Armenian Church, to which the expropriated cemetery was
affiliated with.
The gravestone of Garabet Balyan, the architect of many important
architectural monuments in Istanbul including the Dolmabahce Palace,
has been transferred to the Istanbul Archaeological Museum for
preservation. The gravestones were found placed above each other at
the Kartal construction site, and the inscription on Garabet Balyan's
gravestone could easily be read because it was at the top of the pile.
In addition to Balyan's gravestone, another gravestone and column
pieces were also discovered. When the gravestone was transported to
the Archaeological Museum, the inscription of the other gravestone
could also be partially deciphered, revealing that it belonged
to Simon Amira Dadyan, the Head of the Gunpowder Factory of the
Ottoman Empire. Although the part featuring his name was damaged,
the inscription on the gravestone of Dadyan, who passed away on 12
March 1832, and was buried at the BeÅ~_iktaÅ~_ Armenian Cemetery,
could be read to the extent that it was proved to belong to him.
Historian Elmon Hancer managed to determine both from the word
'varotabed', meaning 'gunpowder factory head' and the date of death
that the gravestone belonged to Simon Amira Dadyan, and stated that
the Dadyan Family was a very important family that had initiated
industrial development in the Ottoman Empire. Hancer added that both
gravestones featured a very special type of calligraphy, and that
they were valuable pieces reflecting the aesthetic of the period.
Lost since the 1950s
The cemetery had become derelict over the years after Sultan Abdul
Hamid II had ordered the demolition of its walls and its transformation
into a garden, and that meant no new burials took place. The cemetery
area had been completely sequestrated in the 1950s, and various
buildings and the Yıldız intersection that connects to the Bosphorus
Bridge are located on the plot today.
Although there aren't many photographs of the expropriated cemetery, it
is known that Garabed Balyan and Simon Amira Dadyan, whose gravestones
have been retrieved, were buried here. The gravestones in question
have once again shed light on these two Armenian families who had
took on important roles in the Ottoman Empire.
Who is Simon Amira Dadyan?
Simon Amira Dadyan, the brother of Hovannes Bey Dadyan, who received
the title 'Bey' because of his role in the Crimean War, is also known
as the founder of the YeÅ~_ilköy Armenian Church. Simon Amira was
appointed as the head of the Ottoman Gunpowder Factory following the
death in 1812 of his father Dad Arakel who had founded the institution,
and remained in this position until his death. The inscription on his
gravestone also mentions his close friendship with Sultan Mahmud II,
and Simon Amira also developed, with his brother Hovannes Dadyan,
important inventions used at the factory, the expansion of which he
oversaw. The two brothers are also known as the founder of the carpet
factories in Hereke. Simon Amira Dadyan was also awarded the 'Murassa'
['bejewelled'] medal by Sultan Mahmud II, and had earned the privilege
of dressing like Muslims. Simon Amira served during the period when
Kazaz Artin Amira Bezciyan was in charge of the Ottoman Royal Mint, and
he is known to have developed a number of inventions used at the Mint.
http://www.agos.com.tr/en/article/10484/dadyan-emerges-from-beneath-balyan
Baruyr Kuyumciyan 02.04.2015 19:51SOCIETY
The gravestone rendered illegible because it was left beneath Garabet
Balyan's gravestone has been identified as Simon Amira Dadyan's. Both
gravestones have been taken into preservation at the Archaeological
Museum to be returned to the Armenian community.
In the past weeks, the gravestone of Garabet Balyan, had been
discovered at an Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality construction
site in Soganlık, Kartal; and now the gravestone of Simon Amira
Dadyan, a member of another important family of the period, has
been discovered beneath it. The gravestones, which were discovered
when they came to the attention of a watchful and sensitive father
and son who live in Kartal, are being kept at the Archaeological
Museum pending return to the Armenian community. The discovery of
Garabet Balyan's gravestone had caused great interest and debate,
and the Metropolitan Municipality had assigned a special 24-hour
municipal police unit to protect the stones. Following the report
published in Agos, the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality and the
Istanbul Provincial Cultural Directorate took action, and Istanbul
Archaeological Museum officials took the gravestones from Kartal
to the Museum upon the order of the Directorate. An investigation
regarding the gravestones has also been launched.
Board will investigate
Speaking to Agos, Istanbul Archaeological Museum officials stated
that the gravestones were 'immovable cultural heritage assets' and
that the Cultural Heritage Preservation Board would carry out an
official examination. The report on the stones will be discussed as
part of the agenda of the first meeting of the Istanbul 5th Cultural
Heritage Preservation Board. The decision of the board will determine
the fate of the gravestones.
Patriarchate involved
On the other hand, the fate of other gravestones at the site, which
do not have immovable cultural heritage status, remains unclear. The
Patriarchate has also become involved regarding the gravestones of the
two figures that occupy a highly significant place in the history
of Istanbul Armenians. Following the meeting of the architects
of the Armenian Architects and Engineers Association (HAYCAR),
which is closely following developments, the decision was taken to
prepare and submit a petition for the return of the gravestones from
the Council of Monuments. The most appropriate institution for the
return of the gravestones is considered to be the BeÅ~_iktaÅ~_ Surp
Asdvadzadin Armenian Church, to which the expropriated cemetery was
affiliated with.
The gravestone of Garabet Balyan, the architect of many important
architectural monuments in Istanbul including the Dolmabahce Palace,
has been transferred to the Istanbul Archaeological Museum for
preservation. The gravestones were found placed above each other at
the Kartal construction site, and the inscription on Garabet Balyan's
gravestone could easily be read because it was at the top of the pile.
In addition to Balyan's gravestone, another gravestone and column
pieces were also discovered. When the gravestone was transported to
the Archaeological Museum, the inscription of the other gravestone
could also be partially deciphered, revealing that it belonged
to Simon Amira Dadyan, the Head of the Gunpowder Factory of the
Ottoman Empire. Although the part featuring his name was damaged,
the inscription on the gravestone of Dadyan, who passed away on 12
March 1832, and was buried at the BeÅ~_iktaÅ~_ Armenian Cemetery,
could be read to the extent that it was proved to belong to him.
Historian Elmon Hancer managed to determine both from the word
'varotabed', meaning 'gunpowder factory head' and the date of death
that the gravestone belonged to Simon Amira Dadyan, and stated that
the Dadyan Family was a very important family that had initiated
industrial development in the Ottoman Empire. Hancer added that both
gravestones featured a very special type of calligraphy, and that
they were valuable pieces reflecting the aesthetic of the period.
Lost since the 1950s
The cemetery had become derelict over the years after Sultan Abdul
Hamid II had ordered the demolition of its walls and its transformation
into a garden, and that meant no new burials took place. The cemetery
area had been completely sequestrated in the 1950s, and various
buildings and the Yıldız intersection that connects to the Bosphorus
Bridge are located on the plot today.
Although there aren't many photographs of the expropriated cemetery, it
is known that Garabed Balyan and Simon Amira Dadyan, whose gravestones
have been retrieved, were buried here. The gravestones in question
have once again shed light on these two Armenian families who had
took on important roles in the Ottoman Empire.
Who is Simon Amira Dadyan?
Simon Amira Dadyan, the brother of Hovannes Bey Dadyan, who received
the title 'Bey' because of his role in the Crimean War, is also known
as the founder of the YeÅ~_ilköy Armenian Church. Simon Amira was
appointed as the head of the Ottoman Gunpowder Factory following the
death in 1812 of his father Dad Arakel who had founded the institution,
and remained in this position until his death. The inscription on his
gravestone also mentions his close friendship with Sultan Mahmud II,
and Simon Amira also developed, with his brother Hovannes Dadyan,
important inventions used at the factory, the expansion of which he
oversaw. The two brothers are also known as the founder of the carpet
factories in Hereke. Simon Amira Dadyan was also awarded the 'Murassa'
['bejewelled'] medal by Sultan Mahmud II, and had earned the privilege
of dressing like Muslims. Simon Amira served during the period when
Kazaz Artin Amira Bezciyan was in charge of the Ottoman Royal Mint, and
he is known to have developed a number of inventions used at the Mint.
http://www.agos.com.tr/en/article/10484/dadyan-emerges-from-beneath-balyan