The 500th Year Event within the Piri Reis Week organized by our university took place in Ahmet Keleşoğlu Faculty of Education Erol Güngör Conference Hall on November 11, 2013 at 13:00. The Programme at which the session chairmanship was undertaken by Retired Brigadier General Cevat Ülkekul and speeches made by Prof. Dr. Mesut Elibüyük and Assoc. Prof. Dr. İbrahim Yılmaz enjoyed the attendance of our Vice Rectors Prof. Dr. Mehmet Emin Aydın, Prof. Dr. Birol Akgün, Prof. Dr. Tahir Yüksek, Ministry of Culture and Tourism General Director of Research Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ahmet Arı, Konya City Culture and Tourism Director Mustafa Çıpan, our Faculty Deans and Vice Deans, academic staff, representative of public institutions and students.
Executive Committee member Assoc. Prof. Dr. Adnan Pınar at his speech spoke: “For a nation to be able to establish its future firmly is only possible through acquaintance and adoption of its historical every sort of values, culture and history. As nation, we do not research thoroughly our history. The duty that must be fulfilled by us is to get to know very well and understand the personalities who played an important role in our history and in world history; only this way we can come to welfare. First and foremost we got to figure out how their beneficial services for our nation at that time, can enlighten our way nowadays and how we can generate services worthy of them. The dignified personalities of our history will illuminate our future as well as enlighten our todays with their diamond brilliance. Through our event, we will try to accomplish our duty of fidelity towards Piri Reis by approaching him from different aspects.”
Our Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Birol Akgün said followings in his speech: “Organization of this kind of a meeting bears pretty much importance. First of all, I would like to thank to those who put their effort in this. Turkey got to reconcile with its history again. Do not underestimate cartography. If we have a future prospect and when we are able to draw our own maps, only then we can build our way in science. We still generate science oriented from European point of view. Nowadays, we are re-exploring our historical roots. We must bring to light values of our past and refresh our memories. We should proceed in generation of genuine idea, science and art. All this kind of events are substantial dynamics functioning in reuniting of us with our past. I wish beneficence for this event that will aid us to understand Piri Reis and especially enable youngsters to get a vision.
The chairman of panel Retired Brigadier General Cevat Ülkekul said followings in speech as well as gave information on life of Piri Reis and his works: “Piri Reis was not only a simple sailor. From his works we can get information on history, geography, economy, cosmography and many cultural and social fields. He had the knowledge of globosity of Earth, distribution of lands and sees on the world and latitude-longitude degrees. There are many articles written about Piri Reis Map. Eventually arose three opinions: first one “it is a precise map but not drawn by Turks”. Second one “Piri Reis Map is an insignificant map and does not deserve attention.” This opinion mostly represented by our researchers. Third one that I ally myself too “Piri Reis Map is a quite precise, exceptional map. There are many manuscript copies of this map. Naturally, due to the inexistence of photocopy then, there are some little differences between manuscript copies and the genuine one.”
Assoc. Prof. Dr. İbrahim Yıldız in addition giving information on Bahriye titled book of Piri Reis, made the following statement: “When you look at the conditions of that era, for the arrival of a ship to its destination, requirement of knowledge of other sciences other that geography is indispensable. This map is a detailed, precise and navigational map for Mediterranean Region.”
Prof. Dr. Mesut Elibüyük gave information about Piri Reis from the point of view of a geographer: “Piri Reis Map gains more importance day by day and comes a moment where it becomes identical with the first world map. To be able to evaluate Piri Reis Map, we got to study all of his works. For the era he lived it was a magnificent map. In 16th century there is not any such map. In his era he was known not for his map but for his book titled Bahriye. The map and the drawings reveal that he was a geographer, cartographer and man of science. His drawings are not casual nevertheless they are drawn scientifically by usage of measurements. In his book titled Bahriye, it is possible to find information on more than 70 countries’ 500 years ago conditions. Moreover, he acquainted audience with Piri Reis’s life, seamanship, the time he started seamanship, his participation to Ottoman navy.
At the end of panel, our Vice Rector Birol Akgün presented plates to panelists. After the photo shooting together with executive committee and cocktail “City Plans by Piri Reis and Turkish Cartographers’ Drawings” titled exhibition was opened.