Famous
Istanbul historian Jak Deleon writes about Bebek in his
book named 'The Bosphorus: A Historical Guide ' as:
''According
to certain sources, Bebek's name in ancient times was
Khallae. It is said that this name, meaning landing stages,
comes from Skallai. According to other sources Khallae
was today's Kilyos, while Bebek was known as Philemporon.
Among
those who lived in Bebek were statesman and government
employees involved in education and religion, such as
Ismail Efendi, Durizzade Abdullah, Dividiguzel Hayrullah
Aga and Yesarizade Mustafa Izzet Efendi.
Bebek
was once famous for its gardens of roses and acacias,
its weeping willows, lacy nettle trees and the constant
sound of nightingales singing. Its most important monument
was the Khedive Palace, once the Ali Pasa Kosku and later
the property of Emine Hanim. Following the death of Emine
Hanim the palace was given to the state of Egypt. Today,
it continues to function as the Consulate-General of Egypt.
One
of the most interesting Bosphorus mansions is the Reisulkuttab
Mustafa Efendi Yalisi known as the Mansion of Snakes.
Mahmut II informed Muhasib Said Efendi that he liked Mustafa
Efendi's Bebek mansion. In order to protect Mustafa Efendi,
Said Efendi told the Sultan that it was full of snakes.
Mahmut II changed his mind about appropriating the building
but from then on it has been known as the Mansion of Snakes.
The
Imperial Jeweller Jak Bey Deleon Yalisi once stood beside
the Ahmet Cevdet Pasa Residence. The original owners of
this mansion were Bitlis Governor Ethem Pasa and his wife
Nafia Hanim. Abdulhamid II's imperial jeweller, Jak Bay
Deleon, upon whom the sultan bestowed the title of 'Bala'
(the Exalted) for services rendered to the Throne, bought
the mansion from Ethem Pasa. It was thenceforth referred
to as the Jak Bay Deleon Mansion. It was renowned for
its fountains with ornate marble basins intended for nightingales
to drink from. The Jak Bay Deleon Mansion burned down
at the beginning of the 20th century. Following the fire,
Jak Bay Deleon and his family moved to Nice and never
returned.
The
hillside above the Bebek-Rumeli Hisari road is today occupied
by Bogazici University. Formerly Robert College, it was
founded in 1863 on ground purchased from Ahmet Vefik Pasa
upon the orders of Abdulaziz. Its buildings were constructed
using the quarries on the same land. These quarries were
also the source of the stone used by Mehmet the Conqueror
in the costruction of Rumeli Hisari.''
