- Karacaahmet Cemetery
The Karacaahmet Cemetery ( _tr. Karacaahmet Mezarlığı), located in
Üsküdar district, is the oldest inIstanbul and, at convert|750|acre|km2, the largest burial ground inTurkey .The cemetery was named after a warrior companion of
Orhan I , the second Ottoman sultan and is believed to have been founded in the mid-14th century. It is estimated that over a million people are interred in the non-profit cemetery. [cite web
title = Time Out Istanbul
publisher =Time Out
url = http://www.timeout.com.tr/show.php?isim=asian.htm
format =HTML
accessdate = 2007-09-02 ]Karacaahmet Cemetery comprises 12 parcels, each dedicated to different religious groups. Many historical
headstone s with inscripts inOttoman Turkish alphabet can still be seen. The burial ground is covered by highcypress trees. [ [http://www.uskudar-bld.gov.tr/portal/rehber/t1.jsp?PageName=rehberAyrinti&ID=249 Municipality of Üsküdar] tr icon]The shrine of Karaca Ahmet Sultan, a 13th century physician and saint of
Alevi s, is situated within the cemetery. [ [http://www.alevi.com/alevikurumlar+M5e853eca8f2.html European Alevi Unions Confederation official website] tr icon] There are also many other historical tombs andmasjid s built during the Ottoman period.Notable burials
*
Benderli Ali Pasha , SultanMahmud II 's Grand Vizier
* Osman Zeki Üngör (1880-1958), composer, original conductor of thePresidential Symphony Orchestra
*Reşat Nuri Güntekin (1889-1956), novelist
*Sheikh Hamdullah (1436-1520), calligrapher
* Oktay Rifat Horozcu (1914-1988), poet
*Cem Karaca (1945-2004), rock musician
*Arif Mardin (1932-2006), Turkish-American music producer
* Fikret Mualla Saygı (1903-1967), painter
* Kaçı Vehip Pasha (1877-1940), Ottoman generalDamage by Marmaray project
By June 2007, a dent of 1.5 m diameter and 4 m depth occurred close to the cemetery wall, which was caused by the excavation works in the tunnel for
Marmaray project. It was reported that some graves were damaged. [ [http://www.haber34.com/marmaray-kazisinda-gocuk-491-haberi.html Istanbul News] tr icon]See also
*
List of famous cemeteries References
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