The Ibrahim Bey Imaret dates from 1433. It was a continuation of the Seljuk style, it is in the tradition of the Karatay Medrese and the Ince Minare Medrese in Konya. The inner court is covered. To the right side of the mosque there is the türbe of the founder, emir Ibrahim Bey. In front of the mosque stands the Ibrahim Bey Çeşmesi, also built in Seljuk style.
For pictures of the glory of the former mihrab of this mosque, now in an Istanbul museum, click this link.
The architecture of the Emir Ibrahim Bey Türbesi (= tomb, in front on the picture) is a stylistic transition: the octagonal drum and pyramidal roof are still classical Seljuk, but the square ground plan is similar to what of the Ottomans built in the 15th-16th century. Its builder Ibrahim II Bey was the 16th monarch of the Karamanoğulları dynasty (1423-1464).
The Karamanids (Turkish: Karamanoğulları), also known as the Beylik/Principality of Karaman, was one of the Anatolian beyliks, centered in south-central Anatolia, around the present-day Karaman Province. It came into being around 1250 (following the Seljuk defeat in Kösedağ against the Ilhanlı Mongols), and grew slowly - but steadily - to become one of the oldest and most powerful Turkish beyliks during the 14th-15th century. They were the first Anatolian dynasty (in the 13th century) to adopt Turkish as their court and written cultural language instead of Persian (as the Seljuk did). The Karamanid state was terminated by the Ottomans in 1487.
Correspondent: J.M.Criel, Antwerpen.
Sources: ‘Türkye Tarihi Yerler Kılavuzu’ – M.Orhan Bayrak, Inkılâp Kitabevi, Istanbul, 1994 & Wikipedia.
The name ‘Ibrahim Bey Imareti’ (Soup kitchen of Ibrahim Bey) could be somewhat misleading, since it was founded as a külliye (complex) for the poor and the travellers, including a mescid (small mosque), a çeşme (fountain), a tabhane (hostel), a medrese (school) and the founder’s tomb, apart from the name giving aşevi (kitchen).
The main building (this is: without the mausoleum) measures 20 x 26 m, and has two floors. The complex was last restored in 1964/65 and in 2007.
Correspondent: J.M.Criel, Antwerpen.
Source: ‘Karaman (Tarihi ve Kültürü)’ (Ilhan Temizsoy & M. Vehbi Uysal) – Konya 1981 .
