Virgins Monument is a monument located in Maltepe district of Istanbul province in Turkey. The monument was built in 1953, 50 meters off the Sureyya Beach, into the sea. The monument is known for a dome placed on six pillars and a statue of Venus in the middle. However, the statue inside the monument was stolen during the coastal road project in the early 1990s. Due to the filling of the sea in the early 2010s, the monument was shifted towards the land. The monument, immortalized with a depiction in the Maltepe Municipality logo, also inspired the architecture of the Türkan Saylan Cultural Center in the district.
Virgins Monument was built by Süreyya İlmen, the founder of the Ottoman Air Force, to become the symbol of Maltepe and to increase the attraction of Süreyya Beach. Süreyya İlmen realized the idea of making a beach by demolishing the vegetable garden between Idealtepe and Maltepe coast. Thus, the name of the beach began to be named after him. At that time, Süreyya Beach became a place that attracted almost everyone living in Istanbul with its approximately 300 meters of coast and warm sea. The Virgins Monument has become a symbol of the area as part of this popular beach.
The Reason for the Monument to the Virgins
Süreyya Pasha, while explaining the reasons for the construction of the monument, states that they were influenced by the legend of the Temple of Virgins in ancient Greek mythology. According to this legend, the young girls who swam to the monument were able to reunite with their loved ones more easily after meeting with the Venus statue. The shape of this temple, which is frequently seen in European parks and on the waterside, was liked by Süreyya İlmen and he built a sea temple consisting of six pillars and a dome on three large pieces of rock under the sea to adorn his beaches.
When it was first built, single women and young girls, who could not get married in time, would swim to the monument and pray and convey their wishes for marriage. The 4-meter-high monument has lost its former appearance over time. The coast with the Virgins Monument was filled to build a highway, and the hotels and beaches were demolished. The Venus statue inside the monument disappeared under the embankment. Now the Virgins Monument is located in the parking lot of a supermarket, leaving no trace of its former appearance.
Moving the Virgins Monument
The Virgins Monument, one of the historical places on the Anatolian Side, is getting ready to be exhibited in a place that will be noticed more and regain its former importance. Monument, II. It was inaugurated by the soldier and politician Süreyya İlmen, son of Rıza Pasha, one of Abdülhamid’s greenhouse soldiers. This monument, which played a major role in the development of urban culture and love of maritime, was damaged by the fire that the homeless lit for warmth.
Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality took action because the location of the monument was not noticed and it was damaged due to the fires lit around it. It has been announced that the monument will be moved to a spot with more pedestrian traffic. IMM stated that the Virgins Monument will be brought to light as it deserves in the area that provides Metro and Marmaray transportation, and it will become one of the symbols of Istanbul again. In line with the survey and restitution projects approved by the Cultural Heritage Preservation Board, it has been announced that the works will be started to move the Virgins Monument from the idle area where a part of it is buried under the ground and to place it in the center of the project within the same area.
