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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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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,

OsvaldoGago, Panasonix, Pearz25, Petrb, Pewpewlazers, Phoebe, Pimes, Plastikspork, Poindexter Propellerhead, Pras, Prioryman, Qxz, RJASE1, Radomil, Randolph, Recognizance, Rjwilmsi,

Rsrikanth05, Saga City, Sahrazad, SamuelTheGhost, Saperaud, Scienceinc., Ser Amantio di Nicolao, Shaolin128, Shenme, Shuppiluliuma, Sluzzelin, Smzia84, Sonikwlf, Strongbadmanofme,

Student7, Suleyman Habeeb, Sultan Ahmet Camisi, Supasheep, Syed Atif Nazir, Takabeg, Tanweer Morshed, Teemeah, ThaGrind, The Omniscient, The Phoenix, TheGreenEditor, Thumperward,

Ufinne, Ugur Basak, UltimateGamer84, Uspn, Vegaswikian, Wareh, Warofdreams, WhoDosntKnow, Widr, Wiki,haseeb, Wikipelli, WoodElf, Yahel Guhan, Yahnatan, Zeledi, Zigger, Zizibo,

€•‚ƒ.„€…†‡ .24, 341 anonymous edits

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