Meydan
Encyclopedia
The meydan is an urban public park or open space
. The word is often associated with the Ottoman Empire
, and refers to a public area in which discussions take place and speeches are made. The word and concept is current in the Republic of Turkey
.
A good example of a meydan can be seen in Ohrid
, Macedonia
. On two sides of the meydan in Ohrid, there are two mosques. In the centre of the meydan there is a çinar (plane tree
) to shade one from the heat. There are places to sit and there is water to drink. One can deduce from the historical existence of the water source, the reason for existence of both the çinar and the meydan.
The çinar is said to be 900 years old. From this we may deduce that the meydan already existed at least 500 years before the arrival of the Ottomans.
There is an interesting literary insight into the function of the meydan in Birds Without Wings
by Englishman, Louis de Bernières
. Being a public space, people were consulted there, were executed there. This was the space where the people needed to go to learn of the rulings of the authorities.
Similar public open spaces can be found in the Christian world, with similar functionality.
Public space
A public space is a social space such as a town square that is open and accessible to all, regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, age or socio-economic level. One of the earliest examples of public spaces are commons. For example, no fees or paid tickets are required for entry, nor are the entrants...
. The word is often associated with the Ottoman Empire
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
, and refers to a public area in which discussions take place and speeches are made. The word and concept is current in the Republic of Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
.
A good example of a meydan can be seen in Ohrid
Ohrid
Ohrid is a city on the eastern shore of Lake Ohrid in the Republic of Macedonia. It has about 42,000 inhabitants, making it the seventh largest city in the country. The city is the seat of Ohrid Municipality. Ohrid is notable for having once had 365 churches, one for each day of the year and has...
, Macedonia
Republic of Macedonia
Macedonia , officially the Republic of Macedonia , is a country located in the central Balkan peninsula in Southeast Europe. It is one of the successor states of the former Yugoslavia, from which it declared independence in 1991...
. On two sides of the meydan in Ohrid, there are two mosques. In the centre of the meydan there is a çinar (plane tree
Platanus
Platanus is a small genus of trees native to the Northern Hemisphere. They are the sole living members of the family Platanaceae....
) to shade one from the heat. There are places to sit and there is water to drink. One can deduce from the historical existence of the water source, the reason for existence of both the çinar and the meydan.
The çinar is said to be 900 years old. From this we may deduce that the meydan already existed at least 500 years before the arrival of the Ottomans.
There is an interesting literary insight into the function of the meydan in Birds Without Wings
Birds Without Wings (novel)
Birds Without Wings is a novel by Louis de Bernières, written in 2004. Narrated by various characters, it tells the tragic love story of Philothei and Ibrahim. It also chronicles the rise of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the 'Father of the Turkish Nation'...
by Englishman, Louis de Bernières
Louis de Bernières
Louis de Bernières is a British novelist most famous for his fourth novel, Captain Corelli's Mandolin. In 1993 de Bernières was selected as one of the "20 Best of Young British Novelists", part of a promotion in Granta magazine...
. Being a public space, people were consulted there, were executed there. This was the space where the people needed to go to learn of the rulings of the authorities.
Similar public open spaces can be found in the Christian world, with similar functionality.