Famous Ottomans Buried in Eyup Sultan Cemetery

The Most Prestigious Cemetery of the Ottomans

The Eyup Sultan Cemetery has been Istanbul's most prestigious burial site since the Ottoman era. Being laid to eternal rest near Abu Ayyub al-Ansari was considered a great honor for Ottoman statesmen and scholars.

Grand Viziers

Sokollu Mehmed Pasha: One of the greatest grand viziers of the Ottoman Empire. His tomb is in the mosque cemetery and was designed by Mimar Sinan.

Halil Hamid Pasha: Grand vizier of the Selim III era. Known for his military reforms.

Poets and Writers

Ziya Pasha: One of the important figures of Tanzimat literature. Known for his works "Terkib-i Bent" and "Terci-i Bent." His famous couplets from "Terkib-i Bent" are still widely quoted.

Halet Efendi: One of the last representatives of Divan literature. Known for his elegant poems and political personality.

Scholars and Religious Leaders

Akshemseddin: The mentor of Fatih Sultan Mehmed and the spiritual leader who discovered the tomb of Abu Ayyub. One of the most respected scholars of the Ottoman Empire.

Sivasi Efendi: One of the great Sufis of the 17th century. An important sheikh of the Halveti order.

Tombstone Art

One of the most valuable features of the Eyup Sultan Cemetery is the calligraphy examples on the tombstones. The rarest examples of Ottoman calligraphy art are found on these tombstones. The kavuks, turbans, and fezzes on the stones symbolize the profession and social status of the deceased. This cemetery is essentially an open-air calligraphy art museum.