sultan ahmed mosque
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Sultan Ahmed Mosque 1
Sultan Ahmed Mosque
For other uses, see Blue Mosque (disambiguation).
The Blue Mosque
Basic information
Location Istanbul, Turkey
Geographic coordinates 41.005483€N 28.977385€E[1]
Affiliation Islam
Architectural description
Architect(s) Sedefk•r Mehmed A‚a
Architectural type Mosque
Architectural style Islamic, Late Classical Ottoman
Completed 1616
Specifications
Capacity 10,000
Length 73 m (240 ft)
Width 65 m (213 ft)
Dome height (outer) 43 m (141 ft)
Dome dia. (inner) 23.50 m (77.1 ft)[2]
Minaret(s) 6
Minaret height 64 m (210 ft)
The Sultan Ahmed Mosque (Turkish: Sultan Ahmet Camii) is a historic mosque in Istanbul. The mosque is
popularly known as the Blue Mosque for the blue tiles adorning the walls of its interior.
It was built from 1609 to 1616, during the rule of Ahmed I. Its K„lliye contains a tomb of the founder, a madrasah
and a hospice. The Sultan Ahmed Mosque is still popularly used as a mosque.
History
After the Peace of Zsitvatorok and the unfavorable result of the war with Persia, Sultan Ahmet the First decided to
build a big mosque in Istanbul to calm God. It would be the first imperial mosque for more than forty years. While
his predecessors had paid for their mosques with their spoil of war, Ahmet the First had to remove the funds of the
Treasury, because he had not gained remarkable victories. It caused the anger of oul…mas, the Muslim jurists. The
mosque must be built on the site of the palace of the Byzantine emperors, in front of the basilica Ayasofya (at that
time, the mosque the most worshipped in Istanbul) and the racecourse, a site of a big symbolic meaning. Big parts of
the south shore of the mosque rest on the foundations, the vaults of the old Grand Palace.
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Sultan Ahmed Mosque 2
Architecture
The Sultan Ahmed Mosque has one main dome, six minarets, and eight secondary domes. The design is the
culmination of two centuries of Ottoman mosque development. It incorporates some Byzantine Christian elements of
the neighboring Hagia Sophia with traditional Islamic architecture and is considered to be the last great mosque of
the classical period. The architect, Sedefk•r Mehmed A‚a, synthesized the ideas of his master Sinan, aiming for
overwhelming size, majesty and splendour.
Interior
Interior view, featuring the prayer area and the main
dome.
At its lower levels and at every pier, the interior of the mosque is
lined with more than 20,000 handmade ceramic tiles, made at
Iznik (the ancient Nicaea) in more than fifty different tulip
designs. The tiles at lower levels are traditional in design, while at
gallery level their design becomes flamboyant with representations
of flowers, fruit and cypresses. More than 20,000 tiles were made
under the supervision of the Iznik master The price to be paid for
each tile was fixed by the sultan's decree, while tile prices in
general increased over time. As a result, the quality of the tiles
used in the building decreased gradually.
The upper levels of the interior are dominated by blue paint. More
than 200 stained glass windows with intricate designs admit natural light, today assisted by chandeliers. On the
chandeliers, ostrich eggs are found that were meant to avoid cobwebs inside the mosque by repelling spiders. The
decorations include verses from the Qur'an, many of them made by Seyyid Kasim Gubari, regarded as the greatest
calligrapher of his time. The floors are covered with carpets, which are donated by the faithful and are regularly
replaced as they wear out. The many spacious windows confer a spacious impression. The casements at floor level
are decorated with opus sectile. Each exedra has five windows, some of which are blind. Each semi-dome has 14windows and the central dome 28 (four of which are blind). The coloured glass for the windows was a gift of the
Signoria of Venice to the sultan. Most of these coloured windows have by now been replaced by modern versions
with little or no artistic merit.
The most important element in the interior of the mosque is the mihrab, which is made of finely carved and
sculptured marble, with a stalactite niche and a double inscriptive panel above it. It is surrounded by many windows.
The adjacent walls are sheathed in ceramic tiles. To the right of the mihrab is the richly decorated minber , or pulpit,
where the imam stands when he is delivering his sermon at the time of noon prayer on Fridays or on holy days. The
mosque has been designed so that even when it is at its most crowded, everyone in the mosque can see and hear the
imam.The royal kiosk is situated at the south-east corner. It comprises a platform, a loggia and two small retiring rooms. It
gives access to the royal loge in the south-east upper gallery of the mosque. These retiring rooms became the
headquarters of the Grand Vizier during the suppression of the rebellious Janissary Corps in 1826. The royal loge
(h€nk•r mahfil) is supported by ten marble columns. It has its own mihrab, which used to be decorated with a jade
rose and gilt[3] and with one hundred Qurans on an inlaid and gilded lecterns.[4]
The many lamps inside the mosque were once covered with gold and gems.[5] Among the glass bowls one could find
ostrich eggs and crystal balls.[6] All these decorations have been removed or pillaged for museums.
The great tablets on the walls are inscribed with the names of the caliphs and verses from the Quran. They were
originally by the great 17th-century calligrapher Seyyid Kasim Gubari of Diyarbak†r but have been repeatedly
restored.
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Sultan Ahmed Mosque 3
Interior view
Exterior
Courtyard of the mosque, at dusk.
The facade of the spacious forecourt was built in the same manner
as the facade of the S„leymaniye Mosque, except for the addition
of the turrets on the corner domes. The court is about as large as
the mosque itself and is surrounded by a continuous vaulted arcade
(revak ). It has ablution facilities on both sides. The centralhexagonal fountain is small relative to the courtyard. The
monumental but narrow gateway to the courtyard stands out
architecturally from the arcade. Its semi-dome has a fine stalactite
structure, crowned by a small ribbed dome on a tall tholobate. Its
historical elementary school (S†byan Mektebi) is used as "Mosque
Information Center" which is adjacent to its outer wall on the side
of Hagia Sophia. This is where they provide visitors with a free orientational presentation on the Blue Mosque and
Islam in general.
A heavy iron chain hangs in the upper part of the court entrance on the western side. Only the sultan was allowed to
enter the court of the mosque on horseback. The chain was put there, so that the sultan had to lower his head every
time he entered the court to avoid being hit. This was a symbolic gesture, to ensure the humility of the ruler in the
face of the divine.
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Sultan Ahmed Mosque 4
Minarets
One of the minarets of the Blue Mosque.
The Sultan Ahmed Mosque is first one of the two mosques in Turkey
that has six minarets.Second one is the Sabanc† Mosque in Adana.
When the number of minarets was revealed, the Sultan was criticized
for being presumptuous, since this was the same minarets number as at
the mosque of the Ka'aba in Mecca.He overcame this problem byordering a seventh minaret to be built at the Mecca mosque.
Four minarets stand at the corners of the Blue Mosque. Each of these
fluted, pencil-shaped minarets has three balconies (Called ‡erefe) with
stalactite corbels, while the two others at the end of the forecourt only
have two balconies.Before the muezzin or prayer caller had to climb a
narrow spiral staircase five times a day to announce the call to prayer.
Today, a public announce system is being used, and the call can be
heard across the old part of the city, echoed by other mosques in the
vicinity. Large crowds of both Turks and tourists gather at sunset in the
park facing the mosque to hear the call to evening prayers, as the sun
sets and the mosque is brilliantly illuminated by colored flood lights.
Pope Benedict XVI's visit and silent meditation
Pope Benedict XVI visited the Sultan Ahmed Mosque on 30 November 2006 during his visit to Turkey. It marks as
only the second papal visit in history to a Muslim place of worship. Having removed his shoes, the Pope paused for a
full two minutes, eyes closed in silent meditation,[7]
standing side by side with Mustafa ˆa‚r†c†, the Mufti of Istanbul, and Emrullah Hatipo‚lu, the Imam of the Blue Mosque.
The pope €thanked divine Providence for this• and said, €May all believers identify themselves with the one God and
bear witness to true brotherhood.• The pontiff noted that Turkey €will be a bridge of friendship and collaboration
between East and West•, and he thanked the Turkish people €for the cordiality and sympathy• they showed him
throughout his stay, saying, €he felt love and understood.•
Gallery
The Blue
Mosque.
Seen from Sultanahmet Square,
close to the Hagia Sophia.
Arcaded forecourt with one of
the entrance gates.
Prayers inside.
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Sultan Ahmed Mosque 5
Blue tiles. Gateway to the
courtyard.
View of the inner courtyard. Prayer area.
Main dome and its blue tiles. Arcades in the inner courtyard. Two tourists
looking at the
Blue Mosque
from the
Sultanahmet
Park.
The blue
mosque.
The Blue Mosque.
Notes
[1] http:/ / tools.wmflabs. org/ geohack/ geohack. php?pagename=Sultan_Ahmed_Mosque& params=41. 005483_N_28.
977385_E_region:TR_type:landmark
[2][2] Encyclopedia of architectural and engineering feats, Donald Langmead, Christine Garnaut, page 322, 2001
[3][3] ‰z, T., "Sultan Ahmet Camii' in Vakiflar Dergisi, I, Ankara, 1938
[4] Evliya Efendi, Narrative of travels in Europe, Asia, and Africa in the seventeenth century; London, 1846
[5] Naima M., Annals of the Turkish Empire from 1591 to 1659 of the Christian Era; Frazer, London, 1832
[6] Tournefort, J.P., Marquis de, Relation d'un voyage du Levant , Amsterdam, 1718[7] Foxnews: Pope Benedict XVI Visits Turkey's Famous Blue Mosque (http:/ / www. foxnews. com/ story/ 0,2933,233180,00. html), 30
November 2006, retrieved 19 October 2011
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Sultan Ahmed Mosque 6
References
Š Goodwin G., "A History of Ottoman Architecture"; Thames & Hudson Ltd., London, reprinted 2003; ISBN
0-500-27429-0
Š Turner, J. (ed.) - Grove Dictionary of Art - Oxford University Press, USA; New edition (January 2, 1996); ISBN
0-19-517068-7
ŠŠ Sheila S. Blair, Jonathan M. Bloom - "The Art and Architecture of Islam, 1250-1800", Yale University Press,1994; ISBN 0-300-05888-8
External links
Š http:/ / www. bluemosque.co / Website About Blue Mosque - Istanbul
Š Virtual tour inside Sultan Ahmed Mosque (http:/ / www. sanalturistanbul. com/
blue-mosque-360-virtual-tours-sultan-ahmet-mosque)
Š Virtual tour inside Sultan Ahmed Mosque (3D panoramas) (http:/ / www. 3dmekanlar. com/ blue_mosque. htm)
Š Video of Sultan Ahmend Mosque at dawn call to prayer (http:/ / clpmag. org/ article.
php?article=Dawn-in-Istanbul_00212)
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Article Sources and Contributors 7
Article Sources and ContributorsSultan Ahmed Mosque Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=614796001 Contributors: 12dstring, Abdullah Geelah, Adam Bishop, Adam Carr, Ahmadi, Ahmet G„rsakal,
Ahoerstemeier, Ahunt, Alessandro57, Alexander lau, AlexiusComnenus, Alsandro, Andrewpmk, Anonymous editor, Anthony Appleyard, ArglebargleIV, AsceticRose, Atesgoz, Avala, Awakened
crowe, BDD, Babajobu, Babakgh, Badseed, Baristarim, Bemoeial, Benne, Bhadani, BhaiSaab, Bierstein, Blieusong, Bryan Derksen, CARPEDIEM, Calledman, CeeGee, Ceinturion, Chapultepec,
ChrisGualtieri, CiaPan, Citci, Classical geographer, CommonsDelinker, Cplakidas, Culture editor, D6, DBaba, Darwinek, Davidcannon, Dcfleck, Deb, DeliDumrul, Denizz, Deror avi, Dewan357,
Dialectric, Discospinster, Dman2714, Dmwime, Dogears, Draeco, DragonTiger23, Edal, Editor Yazar, Egil, El C, Elekhh, Elmasmelih, Elrohir17, Epbr123, Er Komandante, Erebus Morgaine,
Esrever, Ev, Fama Clamosa, Fenertugrul, Florence the Machine, Fred J, GeeJo, Ghirlandajo, Glane23, GnuCivodul, Gould363, Grenavitar, Grk1011, Gryffindor, Gun Powder Ma, Harry, Hoof
Hearted, I dream of horses, Impetuss, InspectorTiger, Irvi Hyka, Isewell, Ithinkicahn, IvanLanin, Ivansc, J.delanoy, JStewart, JamesBWatson, Jfruh, Jiang, Jimthing, Jkadavoor, Jlascar, JoJan,Johnbod, Joshua Doubek, Josve05a, Joy, Jpbowen, Juliancolton, Kafkasmurat, Kamran2k, Kangxi emperor6868, Karelj, Karl.Kirst, Kendrick7, Khoikhoi, Krish Dulal, Kuru, Lambiam, Lancaster
Beaufighter, Larrybob, Leandros, Lectiodifficilior, Liftarn, Lilaac, Lotje, Louiebb, Lunarbunny, Lysy, M. ‡„kr„ Kuran, M.nelson, MK8, Magioladitis, MarkS, Martarius, Materialscientist,
Md.altaf.rahman, Me, but logged in, Michael Ha rdy, Mpatel, NEWUSER, Nabla, Nedim Ardo‚a, Nightstallion03, Nineveh 209, Noommos, Ohnoitsjamie, Oknazevad, Originalbigj,
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Student7, Suleyman Habeeb, Sultan Ahmet Camisi, Supasheep, Syed Atif Nazir, Takabeg, Tanweer Morshed, Teemeah, ThaGrind, The Omniscient, The Phoenix, TheGreenEditor, Thumperward,
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€•‚ƒ.„€…†‡ .24, 341 anonymous edits
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