An Ottoman ‘çeşme’ (public fountain), still in use. It is standing next to the Kutlubey Camii (also named ‘Ulu Cami’ = Great Mosque).

A ‘çeşme’ is a piece of architecture which supply drinking water. They were originally connected to springs or aqueducts. Until the late 19th century most ‘çeşme’ operated by gravity, and needed a source of water higher than the fountain, such as a reservoir or aqueduct, to make the water flow.
In addition to providing drinking water, fountains were used for decoration and to celebrate their builders, which were generally high state officials, whose name would be mentioned on the ‘kitâbe’ (= building inscription).

Correspondent: J.M.Criel, Antwerpen.