Amisos

Öz

Bektashi lodges served as centers where dervishes worked entirely on a voluntary basis, engaged in agriculture and animal husbandry, and provided both production and education. These lodges contained various structures, including soup kitchens, food storage facilities, stables, tombs, and fountains. Throughout Ottoman history, such lodges were established in various regions of Anatolia and the Balkans. One of the regions where these lodges were densely concentrated was Edirne.
As the second capital of the Ottoman Empire, Edirne is notable for its monumental architecture, within which water structures hold a distinct place. Although fountains are smaller in scale compared to monumental buildings, they provide significant insights into the urban development of the region.
After coming under Turkish rule, important Bektashi figures such as Sarı Saltık, who is considered one of the disciples of Hacı Bektaş Veli, established lodges in Edirne and its surroundings. One such lodge is the Rüstem Baba Lodge, which is now located within the borders of Mecidiye Village in the Keşan district. Over the years, the lodge was abandoned and eventually completely destroyed, but a fountain located nearby remains standing.
This study aims to introduce the Küçük Hasan Dede Fountain, one of the key architectural elements of the Rüstem Baba Lodge. The architectural characteristics, inscription, and significance of the fountain within the lodge complex will be examined in detail.