Simon Bey Balyan (1846-1894)

Simon Bey was the son of Garabed Amira Balyan, and the brother of Nigoğos, Agop and Sarkis Balyan. He was born in Istanbul in February 1846. He was educated privately in Europe. As well as an accomplished architect, he was a skilled designer and ministurist who executed all the paintings on the walls and ceilings of the palaces, pavilions, kasırs, mosques and other buildings constructed by his father Garabed Amira and his grandfather Krikor Amira. After the death of his brother Agop in 1875, Simon was appointed second grade imperial architect by the Sulan and awaded a second class Mecidi medal. He married Paris Hanım, the daughter of Dr. Antranik Pasha, and had four children named Kohar-Iskuhi, Garabed Armenag, Anahid, Eliz and Arusyak. Simon bey died in Istanbul on 21 December 1894 and buried in the Bağlarbaşı Armenian Cemetery in Üsküdar.