Should you go to Istanbul, you’ll discover it laborious to overlook the extraordinary mosques of the Ottoman Empire, probably the most well-known of which is the Sultan Ahmed Mosque, higher generally known as the Blue Mosque. Constructed when the Ottoman empire was at its peak, the Blue Mosque is an architectural masterpiece, from its a number of adorned minarets to its stunning tiles and colours.
In This Article
The Historical past of The Mosque
This architectural masterpiece has a wealthy, fascinating and considerably controversial background. Let’s be taught extra in regards to the Blue Mosque’s historical past.
The place Was It Constructed?
You could find the Blue Mosque in Istanbul, located on Sultanahmet Sq., the place the Byzantine emperors’ palace as soon as stood. It stands in entrance of the Hippodrome and the Basilica Ayasofya, also called the Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque or the Church of Holy Knowledge.
Dominating town skyline from the south, the Blue Mosque holds appreciable symbolic significance. The Hagia Sophia was undoubtedly a supply of inspiration, and the Blue Mosque may be seen as an try to compete with a rival civilization.
Why Was It Constructed?
The Ottomans had fought a devastating battle towards their European enemies, the Habsburgs and one other lengthy and futile struggle towards the Persians within the years earlier than the Blue Mosque’s building. Within the wake of those wars, Sultan Ahmed I needed to depart a legacy of making stunning structure that reasserted Ottoman energy.
Regardless of the grandeur of this unimaginable constructing, when building started in 1609, it was considerably of a nasty omen. Sometimes, Ottoman rulers would construct stunning monuments after a profitable struggle marketing campaign, funding the development with the spoils. Sadly, the Ottomans had skilled a crushing loss towards the Persians underneath Sultan Ahmed I’s reign.
Who Was the Architect?
Sedefqar Mehmeti of Elbasan, also called Sedefkar Mehmed Agha Biçakçiu, was the chief architect of the Blue Mosque. The mosque was the head of his architectural profession within the pursuit of emulating his instructor — the best Ottoman architect, Mimar Sinan.
Initially from Albania, Mehmed traveled to Istanbul in 1563, the place he spent six years as a cadet. Afterward, Mehmed specialised in mother-of-pearl inlay for twenty years earlier than switching to structure and receiving a place as Sinan’s apprentice.
The coed aspired to surpass his instructor, and the Sultan Ahmed Mosque was his alternative to indicate off his architectural type with brighter colours, immense measurement and magnificence.
All through the years, Mehmed earned many prestigious positions from his work, from Chief Bailiff to Grasp of the Waterways. He grew to become chief imperial architect to the Ottoman courtroom in 1606, and between 1609 and 1616, he solely labored on the Blue Mosque. Mehmed Agha handed away in 1617. Thankfully, he left a ebook on structure principle containing his work strategies.
What Supplies Does It Use?
The Blue Mosque consists of wooden, lead and numerous stones, together with porphyry, crimson granite, breccia, puddingstone and marble. Mehmed Agha used mould stone for the construction’s partitions because it was light-weight and straightforward to fabricate. The columns of the mosque are marble, granite and porphyry.
Lastly, greater than 20,000 handpainted Iznik tiles are rigorously organized to rise from the midsections of the mosque.
What Does It Look Like?
The mosque is a külliye, a posh of buildings that serve numerous capabilities. This advanced consists of the mosque and different amenities, together with a mausoleum, a royal pavilion and a backyard platform. The mosque itself has two sections — an enormous prayer corridor topped with a central dome and a spacious courtyard.
Not like earlier imperial mosques in Istanbul, the outer stone partitions encompass many home windows and a blind arcade. The courtyard sits raised above the encircling areas, with steps in three of its partitions main as much as huge entry gates. The interior body of the courtyard is a domed arcade that’s similar on all sides besides on the prayer corridor entry, the place the arches widen.
4 colossal columns maintain up the central dome, and pendentives — delicate triangular segments — help it. 4 of the six minarets are on the corners of the mosque’s prayer corridor, whereas the opposite two are on the courtyard’s exterior corners. A succession of balconies decorates every slender, sharply pointed minaret.
The architectural highlights of the prayer corridor are the sultan’s platform and an arcaded gallery that runs alongside the interior partitions. A carved marble area of interest within the middle of 1 wall directs the trustworthy towards Mecca, and a tall, slim marble pulpit with an ornate turret stands to its proper.
One take a look at the greater than 20,000 handmade ceramic tiles inside is sufficient to perceive the place the identify “Blue Mosque” comes from. Many of the tiles embody photos of fruits, roses and bushes in shades of inexperienced, turquoise and blue, evoking photos of a plentiful paradise. The mosque additionally boasts over 200 stained glass home windows, a present from the Venetian authorities to Sultan Ahmed.
What to Count on When You Go to
For the best expertise visiting the Blue Mosque, you’ll wish to use the northwest entrance into the interior courtyard. Coming into by the archway close to the Hippodrome will give you a wide ranging view of the central dome’s huge grandeur and symmetry. The Blue Mosque in Istanbul is an energetic website of worship and when you arrive through the name to prayer, you’ll hear music ringing all through the stone courtyard.
Should you plan to enter the mosque, it’s essential to abide by the Blue Mosque gown code. Neither males nor ladies are allowed to put on tank tops, shorts or footwear. Girls should cowl their heads and shoulders — when you require a headcover, you may get one from the vacationer entrance. Small plastic baggage are an ideal resolution for carrying your footwear, and shoe racks can be found inside when you want to not convey them with you. Chances are you’ll solely placed on footwear once more when you exit solely through the western entrance.
Across the mosque, you too can go to the Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace and Basilica Cistern. Windstar Cruises has a workforce of expedition guides who can fulfill your curiosity and supply extra perception, understanding and commentary in your go to to the Blue Mosque, serving to you will have the finest time and expertise.
Go to The Blue Mosque With Windstar Cruises
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