Şerafeddin Sabuncuoğlu (1385–1468) was a medieval Ottoman surgeon and physician. Şerafeddin Sabuncuoğlu started his medical interests at the age of 17. He would continue with this medical interest and practice in Amasya Dar-es Sifa Hospital until he died. Şerafeddin Sabuncuoğlu was the director of the Amasya Dar-es Sifa Hospital for almost 14 years.
Illustration from the Cerrahiyyetu'l-Haniyye, Şerafeddin Sabuncuoğlu 15th-century medicine book
Text and illustration of two types of scissors for circumcision. From the Cerrahiyyetu'l-Haniyye
Hydrocephalus Sabuncuoğlu
Amasya is a city in northern Turkey, in the Black Sea Region. It was called Amaseia or Amasia in antiquity. It is the seat of Amasya Province and Amasya District. Its population is 114,921 (2021). Amasya stands in the mountains above the Black Sea (Karadeniz) coast, set apart from the rest of Anatolia in a narrow valley along the banks of the Yeşilırmak River. Although near the Black Sea, this area is high above the coast and has an inland climate, well-suited to growing apples, for which Amasya province, one of the provinces in north-central Anatolia Turkey, is famed. It was the home of the geographer Strabo and the birthplace of the 15th century Armenian scholar and physician Amirdovlat Amasiatsi. Located in a narrow cleft of the Yeşilırmak (Iris) river, it has a history of 7,500 years with many traces still evident today.
A partial view of Amasya seen from Amasya Castle.
Amasya and Yeşilırmak River
Ancient Pontic tombs on the mountain
Strabo was a Greek geographer, philosopher, and historian from Amasya.