Another Study from Cyprus Foundations Administration Shedding Light on Our Past…

prof. Dr. With the maps and the evaluation book prepared for publication by Soyalp Tamçelik and  Mustafa Kemal Kasapoğlu, another unique work has been added to the Turkish Cypriot cultural history.
It was stated that the maps of Cyprus, made in 1878 and unearthed for the first time, were combined with 27 maps of various sizes, resulting in 15 independent maps, and a book on their evaluation was published. It is understood that these maps, which are all handmade, were drawn in 1878, when Cyprus was transferred to England. The fact that the maps are true to reality increases the scientific value of these maps. In this respect, it shows that the maps are the most detailed and the best maps in accordance with scientific criteria made after the conquest.
Drawn waterways, embankments, military buildings, sea and highways, natural harbors, underground riches, fortifications and zoning activities are depicted. On these maps, there are detailed drawings of the bridge and official offices, the locations of military structures, settlements and the Nicosia city walls. The quality of the urban fabric, especially in Nicosia, the location of settlements, market places, cemeteries, religious places, lands suitable for agriculture, commercial, civil and administrative institutions are indicated. Besides geographers, historians, architects, city planners, local administrators, civil-administrative managers, social scientists, teachers, academicians, tourist guides, etc. professional groups can use.
Accordingly, those identified in the study can be listed as follows: Sultan II. With Abdülhamit's maps of Cyprus, the situation of the houses and dairy farms in Gaydura, Kalopsida and Prasyo villages was determined, data on animal husbandry, agriculture and production culture could be reached, the vegetation of the Kalopsida Plain was rich, in addition, Kanlı Dere irrigates this plain and is suitable for agriculture. wheat, barley, rye, corn, etc. Goat, sheep, etc. from the Animal Market where grain is sold. small cattle, cows, oxen, donkeys, mules, etc. where cattle are exchanged, various grains, household goods and personal needs are met with the Great Market, woven clothes, shoes, etc. It has been determined that the Bedesten, where the goods meet the consumers and valuables and jewels are bought and sold, are considered as places where the basic and luxury needs of the wealthy part of Nicosia and the Island are met. It has also been seen that fishermen bring the fish they catch with small boats to Nicosia and sell them in the markets with the Fish Market.
It is understood that the fact that all the mentioned market places are in the center of the inner city walls of Nicosia, the market area corresponds to approximately 500 m2 and is located in an area close to Arabacılar Street, has a further intensifying effect on trade. Horse carts (garrotsa) serve a great deal to bring the commercial goods obtained to the market places or to sell them to the consumers. Arabacılar Street, where these cars are lined up, is one of the most popular and lively places of Nicosia.
Sultan II. The main feature that can be distinguished for Nicosia in Abdülhamit's maps is that the administrative, religious and commercial activities of the city and the areas related to them are intertwined. This brings the vitality of the city and the integration of human communities. Therefore, it is possible to call Nicosia a city of the heart. Most of the buildings marked on the maps of Nicosia are government offices, mansions, official and important buildings, religious temples, water structures and places of worship.
On the map you can see roads, buildings, streets, bastions, fortifications, etc. areas were also witnessed. On the maps, the inner-walled area of the Nicosia District is handled separately. This square, which is called Sarayönü today, is referred to as the Government Square. In Nicosia, the neighborhood and/or the location of the houses on the street where the immovables are located in the inner city walls of Nicosia are directly related to the mosque, secondary school, garden, church, market, fountain, well, cemetery, etc. can be detected through the triangulation points. It is possible to see the location of the Bedesten opposite the Flour Bazaar in the inner city walls, that it was filed on the western axis and that this area was made smaller by placing it on the road. Sultan II. Abdülhamit's maps facilitated the determination of the old locations of cultural assets in Nicosia, and the exact and precise location of the Fish Market, Flour Market or Wheat Bazaar could be determined.
Sultan II. During the period when Abdülhamit's maps were made, streets, townships, villages, etc. language, where all the names are written in this alphabet, but with the Turkish pronunciation of the pronunciation of the Greek words.

It is noteworthy that e. Villages, streets, waterways, highways, settlements, ports, hills, mountains, plains, lands, headlands, farms, streams, forests, arcs, fountains, etc. the names are written with the Greek pronunciation, but with the Turkish pronunciation.
As a result, according to the information obtained from KVI, it was learned that this book, which will add value to the cultural life of the Turkish Cypriot people and the history of Cyprus, will be sent to many research and science centers of the world, respected libraries and universities, and then it will be translated into English and brought into scientific literature.