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. |
