If you pass by Ordu which is one of the melodious and enchanting provinces in Black Sea, Osman Pasha Fountain that is very valuable and unique masterpiece takes a place among the spectacular cultural richness. This historical water-tank with a fountain which has stood for 110 years is located on Ordu city center, next to the famous Yalı Mosque, one of the first built mosques, here.
Today, having the feature of the fountain with highest columns or pillars in Turkey, Osman Pasha Fountain is often cleaned against to the humidity and pollution by Altınordu Municipality using the pressure water.
HISTORY Great Osman Pasha Fountain is constructed by Trebizond Governor Hazinedarzade Osman Pasha natively from Ordu in 1842. Afterwards it was damaged many times and repaired; it got harmed in a big fire in 1883 and the columns of this amazing structure cracked as a result of the attack with cannonball of Russian Army in First World War. Step by step those cracks have increased and expanded hence; it was demolished in 1937 and also, a new park named as ‘’Has Bahçe’’ (private garden of the sultan in English) was built instead of that. In 1997, Osman Pasha Fountain which has an elegant and aesthetic artistic value was rebuilt by Fahri Çelebi who was an important businessman, in accordance with its original shape under the leadership of the mayor Fikret Türkyılmaz.
ARCHITECTURE This miraculous and unique masterpiece, pupil of the city, Osman Pasha Fountain is made of the cubic face stone with flat roof. In our day, there are found two monolithic watering holes in each side of the fountain and two taps still running water. Moreover, it includes an inscription with five lines written in Ottoman Turkish and a framed tughra (sultan’s signature).Additionally, at the beginning, there was a little dome on the main vault but later it was removed and a bronze finial was inserted instead of that.
WHO WAS OSMAN PASHA He was Ottoman statesman and military officer well known as Topal Osman after his leg got damaged in the war which left him cripple (lame) during the rest of the life. He also participate various wars and treaties such as Prut River Campaign, Austro-Turkish War of 1716 and 1718, Ottoman–Persian War of 1730 and 1735 and Combat of Agh-Darband (final war in Mesopotamian Campaign of Nader).In his last battle, Topal Osman became martyr and his army defeated. His head was cut off by the Persian soldier in order to present to Nader Shah who was the Persian King. The other parts of his body were buried in the mosque names as Imam Kasım in Kirkuk.
Content Author : Ebrar OKÇU Page Editor : Mustafa Gökhan BULUT Published : 22 January 2015
