Izmit Clock Tower

 

Clock Tower was also planned to be constructed in a way to witness a historical anniversary. Clock Tower was built by the Kocaeli Governor Musa Kazım Bey of the period to commemorate the 25th year of 2. Abdulhamit Han's acceding to the throne. The tower which is one ofthe first  work of art of Architecture Vedat Tekin, was constructed in neo-classical style. In its construction travertine stones were used that are unique to Hereke and Tavsancıl regions. Its clock was re-manufactured in 1929 by Mustafa Semi. In the bottom floor of the tower there are 3 fountains in 3 directions. There are stone epigraphs on pediments of the fountains and over the gate of the towel. In these epigraphs, words “Municipality built this tower and the fountains for Seyit Kamari in 1318” are written in Arabic alphabet. There is the signature of 2. Abdulhamit in the cartridge with a circle shape on the middle floor. In the epigraph written in Latin alphabet, written later, next to the entrance gate of the clock tower, it is mentioned that it was repaired by SEKA in 1970's. The tower adds a different harmony to the city with its lead covered roof, with its unique high cone, as if it just walked out of an ancient fairy tale.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mechanical based clocks that were the Turkish-Islam invention and that were used in addition to the sun and sand clocks in the olden times, due to their comparatively large internal parts, and their high cost could not be kept by people, by hanging these clocks in the clock towers built everywhere around the city, the citizen were able to keep time. When determining the place of izmit Clock Tower this was also taken into consideration. When we look at the position of the clock tower then, we see that the place chosen was train station and the location near the ship building yard where many workers were employed. Additionally another factor in the selection of the location was since it was built to the memory of the Sultan, we can consider it to be near the hunting seat (Kasr-ı Humayun).

 

Clock towers built on the main large cities within the boundaries of Ottoman Empire during the period when this beautiful building in izmit's Kemalpasa Neigborhood was built, were done so by the governors of those cities, to celebrate the 2th year of 2. Abdulhamit's ascending to throne (culus). For example clock towers were built in the same period for the celebrations in many important cities like Kastamonu, Adana, izmir, istanbul, Uskup, Sam, Bağdat. The tower has neo classical characteristics, three face of the tower with dimensions 3,65 x 3,65 m. with a square plan, is adorned with fountains with marble motifs. The tower with four floors, rises by getting narrower, starting with the watch section on second floor. Under the watch balcony, there are grooved columns with respect to its objective, that do not carry weight and made only for purposes of adornment. On the fourth floor of the tower there is watch room, and clock dial with a diameter of 80 cm. on four facades, that can currently be seen from many areas of the city, attracts attention. Tower ends with a fringed roof, top covered in lead with three windows. It is said as a city legend that 30° meridian passes through izmit Clock Tower. As we know, for the meridian that surround the world virtually, there needs to be a beginning, or in other words a zero point. In every period, each powerful nation had determined a zero point and implemented it.

 

This point sometimes was Coliseum in Rome, sometimes pyramids, sometimes Haghia Sophia Mosque, sometimes Mecca city, and sometimes Eiffel Tower in Paris was accepted as zero point. However, the meridian accepted and implemented today is the meridian assumed to be passing from England's Greenwich town. According to this, Greenwich meridian 30° east meridian is accepted as passing from izmit Clock Tower. However, with the analysis made in recent past, findings related to the 30° that encircles the world became more clear. According to this, 30° meridian is really in Kocaeli. However it passes near Kosekoy.