“To be able to see the Bosphorus, even from afar—for İstanbulians this is a matter of spiritual import that may explain why windows looking out onto the sea are like the mihrabs in mosques, the altars in Christian churches, and the tevans in synagogues, and why all the chairs, sofas, and dining tables in our Bosphorus-facing living rooms are arranged to face the view.”
These verses, attributed to Orhan Pamuk, Nobel Prize winner, convey a profound spiritual and cultural connection to the Bosphorus, viewing it as more than just a geographical feature. He writes that for Istanbul residents, the ability to see the Bosphorus is essential. I grew up by the Bosphorus, like Orhan Pamuk, with the sound of ferries groaning across the water, seagulls wheeling overhead, and the call to prayer echoing from both the European and Asian sides. The Bosphorus was a silent companion, a witness to my childhood. The Strait taught me that borders are not always barriers —sometimes they are bridges between worlds.

By Nil Güler, PhD

The Bosphorus is more than a waterway; it is a symbol of life, pleasure, and happiness for Istanbul people and it shows the historical transformations of the city.
Because of the strait’s strategic importance for the defense of Constantinople (Istanbul), the Byzantine emperors and later the Ottoman sultans constructed fortifications along its shores, especially on the European side.

What is Bosphorus? (Istanbul Strait)
The Bosphorus-Istanbul Strait is a 32-kilometer (20-mile) long north-south strait that joins the Sea of Marmara with the Black Sea in Istanbul and separates the continents of Europe and Asia. Its minimum width is about 700 meters (2,300 feet), and its maximum width is around 3.7 kilometers (2.3 miles) near the northern entrance. There are three suspension bridges over the Bosphorus connecting Europe to Asia.
It also divides Türkiye by separating Asia Minor from Thrace. It is the world’s narrowest strait used for international navigation.
Thus, the Bosphorus allows maritime connections from the Black Sea to the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean via Gibraltar, and to the Indian Ocean through the Suez Canal, making it a crucial international waterway for the passage of goods coming/going from/to the Black Sea.
Most of the shores of the Bosphorus Strait, except for the area to the north, are heavily settled, with the city of Istanbul’s metropolitan population of 17 million inhabitants extending inland from both banks.

The “Guardians of the Bosphorus”
These refer to four spiritual figures revered in Istanbul for their protective and sacred roles associated with the Bosphorus Strait. These guardians, according to legend, are: “Telli Baba,” “Prophet Joshua,” “Yahya Efendi,”“Aziz Mahmud Hudayi.”
Telli Baba is a somewhat mysterious figure, believed to have been a Kadiri Sufi sheik and possibly an army imam during the Fatih Sultan Mehmet era. His tomb is in Rumelikavağı, Sariyer, and he is considered one of the four spiritual protectors. However, details about his life are scarce and shrouded in legend. Even though his identity is not clear, it is narrated that his grave was unearthed after a sick girl dreamt about it and became ill-free following the incident. Many people visit the shrine to make wishes for various matters, including marriage, work, and health. Especially single girls and women wish for a good marriage.
Prophet Joshua (Yuşa in Turkish) has a revered religious site, Yusa Hill, located in Beykoz. According to Islamic tradition, this hill is believed to be the burial site of Prophet Joshua (Yusha bin Nun), who succeeded Moses (Musa) as the leader of the Israelites.
In the Qur’an, in Surah Al-Kahf, the journey of Moses and Joshua to the “place where the two seas meet” is mentioned. According to tradition, Prophet Joshua came to the Bosphorus with Moses and died there.
The current tomb was restored in 1863 by Sultan Abdulaziz.
The hill is considered a sacred place by Muslims. Pilgrims often visit the tomb (Yuşa Türbesi) and the adjacent mosque, especially on religious holidays.
The tomb is huge (about 17 meters long), which is symbolic rather than literal. It is more of a symbolic tomb marking the place believed to be his burial site.
It is located on one of the highest points on the Asian side of the Bosphorus. The hill offers panoramic views of the Strait and the Black Sea, making it a popular spot for both locals and tourists.
Historically, the site’s elevation made it a crucial lookout point, particularly during the Ottoman and Byzantine eras.
While it is primarily a Muslim holy site, it also attracts visitors of other faiths due to the shared Abrahamic tradition that includes the story of Joshua.
Yahya Efendi (also known as Molla Şeyhzade or Sheikh Yahya Beşiktaşî) is a 16th-century mystic, great scholar, and poet closely connected to Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent as his foster brother. Yahya Efendi established a dervish lodge in Beşiktaş and is considered a saint and spiritual protector of the Bosphorus. The graves of many statesmen and important people from the Ottoman period are located here. Sailors and the Ottoman navy historically sought his prayers for safe journeys.
Aziz Mahmud Hüdayi is a prominent Sufi saint and scholar of the Khalwati order who founded a tekke (Sufi lodge) in Üsküdar. His lodge was known as a sanctuary during Ottoman times, offering protection and spiritual refuge.
Together, these four figures are honored as the spiritual guardians of the Bosphorus, symbolizing protection, spirituality, and the Islamic heritage of Istanbul. Their tombs and tekkes are located close to the Bosphorus, and the sites have historically been places of pilgrimage and prayer for those seeking safety, blessings, and spiritual connection.

In today’s geopolitical context, the four “guardians” of the Bosphorus could be:
◗ The Turkish Navy ensures maritime security in the strait.
◗ The Montreux Convention is the legal framework controlling naval passage through the Bosphorus.
◗ Radar and Surveillance Systemsare the modern technological guardians monitoring the Strait.
◗ The Turkish Republic exercises sovereign control over the Bosphorus.
◗ In addition to official protectors, 17 million Istanbul residents are proud guardians of it.
◗ The Bosphorus is a heritage to us. It has inspired art, literature, and architecture. Beyond its history, it is also ecologically significant, as it links the Black Sea to the Sea of Marmara and supports a diverse array of marine life. ■