Qatar National Library brought the legacy of 17th-century Ottoman explorer Evliya Çelebi to life on 2 September, as it hosted a lecture by Turkish travel writer Seymen Bozaslan.
The event, titled "In the Footsteps of an Ottoman Traveler: Retracing the Routes of Evliya Çelebi," retraced the journeys detailed in Çelebi’s monumental travelogue, the Seyahatnâme, through Bozaslan’s lens as a modern explorer.
Bozaslan shared insights from his years-long journey across Turkey, during which he followed the path of Çelebi, connecting historical accounts with modern-day observations and imagery.
A highlight of the event was the presentation of a 4-meter-long manuscript map of the Euphrates and Tigris Rivers, attributed to Çelebi himself. The manuscript, preserved in the Library’s Heritage Collection, was reproduced as a fold-out facsimile in Bozaslan’s latest publication.
Commenting on the event, Hüseyin Şen, Information Service Librarian at Qatar National Library said: “QNL’s Heritage Library is committed to showcasing the enduring connections between past and present. “By hosting Mr. Bozaslan and showcasing unique works like the Evliya Çelebi map, we continue to engage our community in meaningful dialogue about the Islamic world’s intellectual and cultural heritage."
The event is part of Qatar National Library’s ongoing efforts to preserve and promote Islamic cultural heritage.
