Bakireler Anıtı, Monument near Süreyya Beach in Maltepe, Turkey
Bakireler Anıtı is a monument in Maltepe with a dome approximately 3.5 meters wide, supported by six columns and topped with a Venus statue. The entire structure stands about 4 meters tall from ground level.
The monument was built in 1953 by Süreyya İlmen, founder of the Ottoman Air Forces, originally positioned about 50 meters offshore. Coastal development projects in the 2010s changed its relationship to the water, leaving it now on land.
The monument became the focus of a local tradition where young women would swim out to it, making wishes about marriage and their future. This custom made the place meaningful for personal hopes within the community.
The monument is easily accessible, as it now sits on land following coastal development projects. The site is open to the public and visitors can view the structure at any time.
The architectural design of the nearby Türkan Saylan Cultural Center in Maltepe was directly inspired by this monument's structure. This connection shows how the monument influenced local architects and planners working decades later.
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