Psamatheia

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Samatya (Greek: Ψαμάθεια, pr. Psamatheia) is part of the Fatih district of Istanbul. It is located along the Marmara Sea, and borders to the west on the neighbourhood of Yedikule (the "Castle of the Seven Towers"). The name originates from the Greek word Ψαμάθιον (pr. Psamathion), meaning "sandy", because of the great quantity of sand found in the neighborhood.[1]

About 383 AD the first monastic institution was established in Constantinople at Psamatheia, outside the city.

Up to recent times, Psamatheia was mostly inhabited by Armenians, who own there the church of Surp Kevork (St. George), also called Sulu Monastery, which dates back to before the Ottoman conquest; and by Greeks, who have the churches of Hristos Analipsis and Haghios Menas.

In Psamatheia there is also an important public hospital, the İstanbul Eğitim ve Araştırma Hastanesi.

Psamatheia has a station (named "Kocamustafapaşa") on the Suburban train line Sirkeci-Halkalı.

One of the most picturesque fish markets of Istanbul is placed in the quarter, just opposite the train station.

Psamatheia is also a favorite place for Turkish directors. One of the most famous Turkish TV shows, Ikinci Bahar (Second Spring), as well as Nuri Bilge Ceylan's Three Monkeys, were filmed in Samatya.

Nowadays Armenians leave Psamatheia as they move to other central parts of Istanbul. They are replaced by people coming from the south-east region of Turkey.

References

  1. Janin, sub vocem

See also

Sources

  • Janin, Raymond (1964). Constantinople Byzantine. Paris: Institut Français d'Etudes Byzantines.

This article incorporates text from Samatya at Wikipedia under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License.