| Çifte Medrese | |
|---|---|
_DSCF0761.jpg) Gevher Nesibe Medical Complex | |
 Interactive map of Çifte Medrese | |
| General information | |
| Type | Medical school and hospital (bimaristan) |
| Architectural style | Seljuk architecture |
| Location | Kayseri, Turkey |
| Coordinates | 38°43′24″N35°29′15″E / 38.7232°N 35.4874°E /38.7232; 35.4874 |
| Construction started | 1204 |
| Completed | 1206 |
Çifte Medrese, also known as theGevher Nesibe Medical Complex (Turkish:Gevher Nesibe Şifahanesi ve Tıp Medresesi) is a 13th-century medical and educational complex located inKayseri,Turkey.[1] It is considered one of the earliest examples of medical schools in the Islamic world, and possibly the first of its kind in Anatolia combining a hospital (şifahane) with a medical madrasa (tıp medresesi).[2]
Çifte Medrese, one of the Anatolian Seljuk madrasahs, was added to theUNESCO World Heritage Tentative List in 2014.[3]
The complex was commissioned byKaykhusraw I of theSultanate of Rum in 1204 and completed in 1206.[2] According to legend, it was built in memory of his sister,Gevher Nesibe, who reportedly died of heartbreak and asked for a medical school to be established so that others would not suffer her fate.[4]
The complex consists of two adjoining buildings:
It is built of cut stone in the traditional style ofSeljuk architecture, featuring a central open courtyard, iwans, domed chambers, and ornamental stone carvings.[2] The complex represents one of the earliest architectural integrations of education and healthcare in the medieval Islamic world.[5]
The Gevher Nesibe complex played a crucial role in the history of medicine in Anatolia and the Islamic world.[4] It served as a model for later medical complexes throughout the Seljuk and Ottoman periods. Today, it houses the Seljuk Civilization Museum (Selçuklu Uygarlığı Müzesi), showcasing artifacts and information about Seljuk culture and science.