It is claimed that the 470-year-old green column in the corner of the courtyard of the Şehzadebaşı Mosque, which was built by Mimar Sinan upon the order of Suleiman the Magnificent and designated as the 'middle point of Istanbul', is being damaged day by day.
The green column was built when Suleiman the Magnificent asked Mimar Sinan to locate the center of Istanbul and build a mosque for his son Prince Mehmet. Taking measurements within the Walled City, Mimar Sinan determined the center of Istanbul and placed a green column at the intersection of the courtyard wall of the Şehzadebaşı Mosque and the Nevşehirli Damat İbrahim Pasha Social Complex. The green column, which used to be taller and rotated in place, lost these features due to the increase in the road level. It is stated that the green column has now developed cracks and is unprotected.
Archaeologist Ömer Faruk Yavaşçay stated that the stone should be protected and said, "There is a street in front of it. If a car passing by here crashes, this point may be irreversibly damaged. There are damages and cracks on the upper part of the green marble. A pavement was laid on the lower part. They laid the stone without considering whether the stone would be damaged or not." "It is one of the most important pieces left to Istanbul from Suleiman the Magnificent and Sinan the Architect," he said.
Archaeologist Ömer Faruk Yavaşçay noted that the green granite stone placed in the southeast corner of the Şehzadebaşı Complex is a monumental point determined by Mimar Sinan as the geometric center of gravity of the walled Istanbul.
Yavaşçay said, "According to some sources, Suleiman the Magnificent started to have a mosque built for his deceased son. Since his son had passed away at that time, he dedicated the social complex he had built for him to his son and buried him at this point. Therefore, he wanted this spot to be very special. From Sinan the Architect to Istanbul." "Then Mimar Sinan starts making measurements. He determines the middle point of the green column on the side and puts the green column at this point," he said.
Stating that Evliya Çelebi also described this point in his books years later, Yavaşçay said, "Although it should be the biggest brand in Istanbul today, it is now in a very bad condition. Everyone passes by, but no one is aware of the importance of this point. Part of the stone is buried under the ground." "This place needs to be saved urgently. It needs to be covered with unbreakable glass. Since this place is a spiritual place, people can buy and sell its pieces. Also, there are paving stones in front of it, it needs to be cleared of these stones and made more aesthetic," he said.
