Bebek

Famous Istanbul historian Jak Deleon writes about Ortaköy in his book named 'The Bosphorus: A Historical Guide ' :

''According to certain sources, Bebek's name in ancient times was Khallae. It is said that this name, meaning landing stages, comes from Skallai. According to other sources Khallae was today's Kilyos, while Bebek was known as Philemporon.

Among those who lived in Bebek were statesman and government employees involved in education and religion, such as Ismail Efendi, Durizzade Abdullah, Dividiguzel Hayrullah Aga and Yesarizade Mustafa Izzet Efendi.

Bebek was once famous for its gardens of roses and acacias, its weeping willows, lacy nettle trees and the constant sound of nightingales singing. Its most important monument was the Khedive Palace, once the Ali Pasa Kosku and later the property of Emine Hanim. Foolowing the death of Emine Hanim the palace was given to the state of Egypt. Today, it continues to function as the Consulate-General of Egypt.

One of the most interesting Bosphorus mansions is the Reisulkuttab Mustafa Efendi Yalisi known as the Mansion of Snakes. Mahmut II informed Muhasib Said Efendi that he liked Mustafa Efendi's Bebek mansion. In order to protect Mustafa Efendi, Said Efendi told the Sultan that it was full of snakes. Mahmut II changed his mind about appropriating the building but from then on it has been known as the Mansion of Snakes.

The Imperial Jeweller Jak Bey Deleon Yalisi once stood beside the Ahmet Cevdet Pasa Residence. The original owners of this mansion, one of the largest in the district, were Bitlis Governor Ethem Pasa and his wife Nafia Hanim. Abdulhamid II's imperial jeweller, Jak Bay Deleon, upon whom the sultan bestowed the title of 'Bala' (the Exalted) for services rendered to the Throne, bought the mansion from Ethem Pasa. It was thenceforth referred to as the Jak Bay Deleon Mansion. Renowned for its fountains with ornate marble basins intended for nightingales to drink from, the Jak Bay Deleon Mansion burned down at the beginning of the 20th century. Following the fire, Jak Bay Deleon and his family moved to Nice and never returned.

The hillside above the Bebek-Rumeli Hisari road is today occupied by Bogazici University. Formerly Robert College, it was founded in 1863 on ground purchased from Ahmet Vefik Pasa upon the orders of Abdulaziz. Its buildings were constructed using the quarries on the same land; these quarries were also the source of the stone used by Mehmet the Conqueror in the costruction of Rumeli Hisari.''