On the picture: The long ‘kitabe’ (building inscription) on the monumental gate of the Ayasofya Ímareti (soup kitchen for the poor), which sultan Mahmud I (1730-1754) had built adjacent to the Ayasofya complex (at its northeast corner, to be precise) in 1743. The calligraphic text is from Hattat (= calligrapher) Beşir and bears the date 1155 H. (= 1742-1743 AD).

Correspondent: J.M.Criel, Antwerpen.
Source: Website of ‘ayasofyamuzesi.gov.tr’ .


The imaret now houses the fine carpet museum.