The Pir Sücaeddin Ilyas Türbesi, also called ‘Yukarı Pirler Türbesi’ (= Upper Tomb of the Governors), is a mausoleum erected in 1486 by Gümüşlüzade Ahmed Bey, from the same family of the man who repaired the Gümüşlü Cami two centuries later. This Gümüşlüzade Ibrahim Bey rebuilt this tomb too, in 1689. The building collapsed again in 1895, due to an earthquake. And again it was restored soon after, in a traditionnal Ottoman style, but using the 19th century building techniques. As no restorations were needed since, it is obviously looked after carefully.

A ‘Pir’ is a leader of an Islamic Sufi brotherhood, often also referred to as ‘Şeyh’ (Sheikh).

The inside of the mausoleum is divided into three areas, each of them hooded over by a little dome. Each area has its own function: one is for study and meditation, the center is the tomb, and the third is a mescit (= small mosque). The türbe still attracts pilgrims in search of spiritual inspiration.

On the picture: The central area of the mausoleum, where the cenotaph sarcophaghi stand. They belong to the deceased, whose remains are buried in the cellar below: Şeyh Sücaeddin Pir İlyas (who died in Amasya in 1433), his Son-In-Law Pir Celaleddin Abdurrahman, his grandson Pir Hayreddin Hızır Çelebi and some relatives of them. They all belonged to the Gümüşlüzade family, which for at least two hundred years delivered high ranked state officials too. This implies that these Pir’s ‘tarikat’ (religious brotherhood) was close to Ottoman power.
In this case: the Halveti Sufi Order.

Correspondent: J.M.Criel, Antwerpen.
Sources: ‘Vakıf Abideler ve eski Eserler’ - Vakıflar Genel Müdürlüğü, Ankara 1983.