The Baths of Nişancı Paşa are an Ottoman hammam in Eyüpsultan District on the European side of Istanbul, endowed by a Nişancı Paşa, an official who held the important administrative role of affixing the imperial monogram to official documents, a position of considerable prestige in the Ottoman chancery hierarchy. Eyüpsultan is one of the most sacred districts in Istanbul, home to the mosque and tomb of Eyüp el-Ensari, a companion of the Prophet Muhammad, making it a major pilgrimage destination within the city. The hammam served the large population of religious scholars, pilgrims, and residents who gathered in this spiritually charged quarter at the head of the Golden Horn.
Insider tip — Nişancı Paşa Hammam in Eyüp/Edirnekapı, Istanbul. The nişancı was the imperial secretary charged with affixing the tuğra (the sultan's monogram) to firmans and official documents. Eyüp Sultan is the most sacred district of Istanbul, home to the mosque and mausoleum of Eyüp Sultan (a companion of the Prophet), a destination for pilgrimage and for celebrating sünnets (circumcisions).
