THE TEKKE (SEZAI-YI GÜLSENI TÜRBESI)

 

The Tekke as spotted in Google earth map.

 

 

 

The Tekke is situated at the upper terrace, circa 140 m northeast of the Ancient Corinth modern village square. Today the building is easily reachable, since it is found along the central street, at a plot of land which belongs to private property, where also an old low enclosure wall is still preserved.

Former excavations that took place at the interior of the monument during the 1980’s decade brought to light two buried skeletons. This fact characterizes the monument as belonging to the religious funeral monuments of the Ottoman times, thus being a türbe, the according to the relevant historical data Sezai-yi Gülseni Türbesi. Locals refer to it as the “Tekke” (convent), since it must have belonged to a former monastery of the area.

The building presents a square shaped ground floor plan, 6,18×6,22 m. It is constructed by well cut porous stones, that have been left without plaster. It consists of one hall with four openings, each one set at the four sides. It is covered by a lowered semispherical dome, resting on an octagonal drum. The transition from the circular plan of the dome to the square shape of the groundfloor is enabled through pendentives that cover each one of the four corners.

The main entrance of the Tekke was set at its northern façade with an arched opening. The openings in the interior of the building present arched lintels. On the southern façade a rectangular window is found, that is framed by pieces of marble. An inset marble plaque is still preserved above the window, bearing an inscription in Arabic script, translated as “O You who Are”.
The Tekke had undergone restoration works during the 1980’s decade: intervention works included the iron rods that tighten the drum of the dome, the supporting of the damaged lintels; etc.

SOURCES

Chrysafi-Zografou Metaxoula, “Τουρκικά κτίσματα στην Κόρινθο. Κρήνες και θρησκευτικά κτήρια”, ΥΠΠΕ, Τεχνική Περιοδική Έκδοση Αναστήλωση-Συντήρηση-Προστασία Μνημείων και Συνόλων, τ. Α΄, Αthens 1984, p. 261-278.
Chrysafi-Zografou Metaxoula, “Κοσμική Αρχιτεκτονική της Κορινθίας κατά την περίοδο της Τουρκοκρατίας”, ανακοίνωση στο Β’ Τοπικό Συνέδριο Κορινθιακών Ερευνών, Λουτράκι 25-27 Μαίου 1984, Πελοποννησιακά. Περιοδικό της Εταιρείας Πελοποννησιακών Σπουδών 12, Athens, 1986.

Chrysafi-Zografou Metaxoula Xenia, 1η Έκθεση Αρχιτεκτονικού έργου Κορίνθιων Αρχιτεκτόνων και Κατάλογος Έκθεσης, Corinth 1996.

Kiel Machiel, “Gördüs”, in İslâm Ansiklopedisi, cilt: 14; sayfa: 155.

Manolessou Eleni, “Tekkes”, in Ottoman Architecture in Greece, Brouskari Er. (ed.), Athens 2008, p. 137.

Robinson Betsey A., “Histories of Peirene. A Corinthian fountain in three millennia”, in Ancient Art and Architecture in Context 2, The American School of Classical Studies at Athens, Princeton, 2011.

Eleni I. Kanetaki
The Tekke after the restoration works. The southern and western façades, the vertical section of the monument according to the restoration project : 


lezantalezantalezantaArchitectural survey plans: the ground floor, a section and two facades of the building, (Chrysafi-Zografou Metaxoula, “Τουρκικά κτίσματα στην Κόρινθο. Κρήνες και θρησκευτικά κτήρια”, ΥΠΠΕ Τεχνική Περιοδική Έκδοση Αναστήλωση-Συντήρηση-Προστασία Μνημείων και Συνόλων, τ. Α΄, Αthens 1984, 261-278.)The Tekke as it stands inside a private property.One of the Tekke’s facade, where traces of former restoration work is evident.The Tekke building, as encountered along the local main road of Ancient Corinth.The inscription found along the southern facade.The interior of the Tekke.