SULTAN AHMET MOSQUE (THE BLUE MOSQUE)
One of the most famous monuments of Turkish and Islamic art, the mosque
is visited by all who come to Istanbul and gains their admiration.
This imperial mosque is an example of classical Turkish architecture,
and it is the only mosque that was originally built with six minarets.
It is surrounded by other important edifices of Istanbul, built at
earlier ages. Istanbul is viewed best from the sea and the mosque is
part of this magnificent scenery.
Although it is popularly known as the Blue Mosque, its real name is
Sultan Ahmet Mosque. Befitting his original profession, its architect
Mehmet Aga decorated the interior fastidiously like a jeweler. Built
between 1609-1616, the mosque used to be part of a large complex,
including a covered bazaar, Turkish baths, public kitchens, a hospital,
schools, a caravanserai, and the mausoleum of Sultan Ahmet. Some of
these social and cultural buildings have not survived to our day.
The architect was a student of Sinan, the greatest architect of
classical Turkish architecture. He applied a plan used previously by his
master, but on a larger scale.
The main entrance to Sultan Ahmet Mosque is on the Hippodrome side.
There is an outer courtyard, and the inner courtyard and the edifice
itself are elevated.
From the gate opening to the inner courtyard one can view the domes,
rising above one another in perfect harmony, over the symbolic ablution
fountain in the middle and the surrounding porticoes.
There are three entrances to the mosque interior. The wealthy and
colorful vista inside created by the paintings, tiles and stained glass
complements the exterior view. The interior has a centralized plan; the
main and side domes rise on four large columns that support broad and
pointed arches. The walls of the galleries surrounding the three sides
of the interior chamber are decorated by over 20,000 exquisite Iznik
tiles. The areas above the tiles and the inside of the domes are
decorated with paintwork.
The blue of the paintwork, which gives the mosque its name, was not the
color of the decorations originally; they were painted blue during later
restorations. During the last renovation, completed in 1990, the darker
blue color of the interior decorations painted as its original light
colors.
The floor is covered by carpets, as in all mosques. Next to the mihrab (niche
aligned towards Mecca) opposite the main entrance, there is a marble
minber (pulpit) with exquisite marble work. On the other side is the
sultan's loge (box) in the form of a balcony. The 260 windows flood with
light the interior space, which is covered by a dome 23.5 m in diameter
and 43 m high.
The small market building, repaired and reconstructed in recent years,
is situated to the east of the mosque, and the single-domed mausoleum of
Sultan Ahmet and the medrese (religious school) building are to the
north, on the Hagia Sophia side.
In summer months light and sound shows are organized in the park here.
Sultan Ahmet Mosque occupies a focal point in city tours, together with
the numerous monumental buildings and museums in the vicinity.
The minarets of the mosque are classical examples of Turkish
architecture. The balconies are reached by spiral stairs. It is from
these balconies that five times a day the believers are called to prayer
- in our day using loudspeakers.
The domes and the minarets are covered by lead, and at the top of the
minarets there are standards made of gold-plated copper. Master
craftsmen repair these coverings very skillfully when needed.
Islam requires all Muslims to pray five times a day. When the believers
hear the call to prayer from the minarets, they perform their ablutions
(washing) and then pray. The noon prayer on Fridays and the prayers on
other important holidays are performed in the mosques collectively, but
other prayers can be performed anywhere.
In the communal prayers performed in the mosque, the imam takes the lead
and he chants verses from the Koran. The areas of prayer for men and
women are separate. In the central area only men are allowed to pray,
while women take their places either behind them or in the galleries.
It is a characteristic of classical Turkish mosques that even in the
most crowded day, the majority of the congregation can easily see the
mihrab.
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