Buruciye Madrasah

Buruciye Madrasah

The Buruciye Madrasah is a prominent monument from the Anatolian Seljuk period, located in the center of Sivas. It was built by Muzaffer Bey in 1271 during the reign of Gıyaseddin Keyhüsrev III, the son of Hibetullah Burucerdi. The identity of the architect responsible for this magnificent structure remains unknown. For a long time, the madrasah served as a center for teaching positive sciences.

The madrasah follows a quadrilateral layout, featuring four iwans and an open courtyard. The rooms are covered with barrel vaults and encircled by columned porches. Its symmetrical design makes it one of the most significant madrasahs among the Seljuk Anatolian buildings.

Buruciye Madrasah

The entrance to the madrasah is elaborately decorated, featuring intricate lacework designs carved into the stones. Similar motifs can also be found on the tomb located to the left of the entrance iwan, which belongs to Muzaffer Burucerdi, the patron who commissioned the madrasah’s construction. The dome is beautifully adorned with tile decorations.

The Buruciye Madrasah is regarded as one of the finest examples of madrasahs with open courtyards, showcasing architectural elements that are perfectly harmonized. Its architectural cohesion is remarkable, and it represents a fusion of the madrasah with iwan, a dominant architectural style during the Seljuk period in Anatolia.

The walls of the building range from 115 to 150 centimeters (45-59 inches) in thickness, with the primary iwan displaying intricate lacework designs. The muqarnas of the main portal is embellished with geometric patterns, and the outflow crown gate is surrounded by inscriptions. The dome behind the main gate is thought to be a mosque and features a mihrab.

Along with nine other madrasahs from the same era in Turkey, the Buruciye Madrasah was added to the Tentative List of UNESCO in 2014 under the title of "Anatolian Seljuks Madrasahs."

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