The museum is housed in the Bimarhane, which translates literally to 'house of the insane' or 'asylum' in Persian, reflecting its original use for psychiatric treatment.
Sabuncuoğlu Şerefeddin was the first physician to record the use of female assistants in surgery.
Historical records indicate that patients were treated with specific musical modes (makams) intended to soothe various mental and physical ailments.
The portal of the building features decorative elements including human and animal motifs, which is rare for Islamic architecture of that period.
The Cerrahiyyetü'l-Haniyye, written in Turkish rather than Arabic or Persian, was revolutionary for making surgical knowledge accessible to local practitioners.
The Sabuncuoğlu Şerefeddin Medicine and History Museum occupies the historic Ilhanid-era Bimarhane, a hospital complex founded in 1308. It honors Sabuncuoğlu Şerefeddin, a 15th-century surgeon who authored the Cerrahiyyetü'l-Haniyye, the first illustrated surgical textbook in the Islamic world. The museum building is architecturally significant for its distinctively carved portal and stonework typical of the Anatolian Seljuk and Ilhanid periods. Exhibits detail the evolution of medicine in Amasya, focusing on music therapy, hydrotherapy, and herbal treatments used in the Ottoman and pre-Ottoman eras. A central courtyard features original stone arches that once supported the dome of the hospital. The site displays reproductions of historical surgical instruments and anatomical drawings. It remains one of the few surviving examples of a medieval hospital structure in Turkey.
The main entrance portal, which showcases intricate 14th-century stone masonry and geometric relief carvings.
Walk through the courtyard to observe the original acoustic properties of the stone chambers.
Read the placards detailing the 'Makam' therapy charts to understand the connection between Ottoman music theory and medical practice.
Do not overlook the small exterior garden, which contains historical stonework often missed by visitors rushing to the main entrance.
Closed on Mondays.
Maintain a quiet volume within the gallery spaces; modest dress is recommended as a sign of respect.
