Article · August 017 citations reads 34 author: Some of the authors of this publication are also working on these related projects

Physical Structure of Wrestling 
Lodges and Gymnasia: Ottoman Wrestling 
Lodges had to have 24 student rooms, 12 guest 
rooms and one sheikh room regardless of the 
size of the building. Cell and lodge terms were 
also used to define room. In addition, there 
were theoretical course classes, training area, 
bathhouse, bakery and kitchen under a roof 
titled Meeting Area for Board of Trustee. 
There was also a large grass pitch next to the 
lodges to enable people to wrestle in open area 
during summer times. Although there was no 
certain location for lodges, they were generally 
built next to the tomb of a famous wrestler. 
There was generally a storehouse next to 
Wrestling Lodges and food, other materials 
and fuel collected from associations and 
association incomes were stored in such 
storehouses [4,16].
Considering physical structure of 
Greek Gymnasia, it can be seen that the 
location was deemed important to be suitable 
for sport activities and requirements of military 
training. The location of gymnasia was 
selected as places under protected places and 
umbrage trees with abundant water. Although 
gymnasia were generally located on waterfront 
and riverbank (Tarsus youth gymnasion was 
built on the riverbank of Kydnos and Olympia 
gymnasion was built on the riverbank of 
Kladeos river), sometimes water channels 
were also built and storage was made in a tank 
as in Assos (Behramkale). In religious aspect, 
gymnasia were built affiliated to the sacred 
area of respected gods or local heroes of the 
city. Although people mostly worshipped 
Herakles and Hermes in these areas, Asklepios
Вестник КГАФКиС
- 5 0 -

---

was also respected in gymnasia, where mental 
and body health mattered, and an Asklepios 
sacred area or temple mostly took place near 
gymnasion places [4,17]. In general; terms, it 
can be seen that gymnasia were located in 
different places in every city due to. various 
conditions and covered large structure islands. 
In addition, Hippodamos' planned urbanization 
shaped rectangular structure of gymnasia as 
well as other building structures. Although 
some gymnasia were built right in the middle 
of city centers (Nikaia-iznik Gymnasion), 
these areas were not usually located at the 
center [4,17,18]. Gymnasia had various rooms 
for physical training and general education in 
the end of Classical Age and Hellenistic Age 
and the different structure of the building 
included a peristyle hall [4,17]. Bathhouse 
tradition was added to gymnasia where great 
changes occurred in Rome Age and a new 
building type which unique to Rome culture 
emerged [17,18].
Trainings offered to wrestling lodges 
and gymnasia: Sheiks, taking place at the 
highest level of social hierarchy, controlled 
zawiyas by informing board of trustees. Sheiks 
trained wrestlers in traditional way and 
performed salawat during wrestling activities 
in the presence of the sultan [4,8,14].Ethnicity 
of the students accepted to the lodges was not 
taken into consideration. Being a lodge athlete 
would bring a huge prestige. There were some 
criteria to accept students to the lodges. 
Students were selected from young people 
aged 15-16 who were found acceptable 
according to their psychological, moral and 
physical performance during the wrestling 
performed in lodge regions [10,11]. Evliya 
Celebi reported that roboust, powerful, leader, 
talented and bright young people were 
accepted [4]. Giilbang-i Muhammedi, which is 
a Bekta§i ritual, was regularly performed under 
the leadership of Sheikh in the lodges at the 
beginning and then periodical trainings were 
performed in company with kudum and drum 
except for Fridays on behalf of Pir-yar-i 
Mahmud Veli (a Ghuzz Turk who built a 
wrestling school in 1221 in Hive province of 
Uzbekistan) who was accepted as 
p ir
(founder) 
[8,12]. "Peace wrestling", which can be 
watched by public, was performed following 
the prayer on Fridays [4]. Tight-wearing
ceremonies, which symbolize transition from 
traineeship to mastership,' were held in 
accordance with Ahi and Bekta§i rituals for 
wrestlers aged 17-20 [9,19]. Wrestlers were 
offered abundant food twice a day except for 
training and competition days. Students also 
received theoretical education along with a 
multi-dimensional 
athletics