Sultan Ahmed Mosque
For other uses, see Blue Mosque (disambiguation).
The Sultan Ahmed Mosque or Sultan Ahmet 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.[2]
It was built from 1609 to 1616, during the rule of Ahmed
I. Its Külliye contains a tomb of the founder, a madrasah
and a hospice. The Sultan Ahmed Mosque is still popu-
larly used as a mosque.
1 History
Sultan Ahmed Mosque (Blue Mosque) was constructed by Husna
bint Mayram on the orders of the son of "Hāndān Vālida
Sultânā,”Sultan Ahmed I.
After the Peace of Zsitvatorok and the crushing loss in the made at Iznik (the ancient Nicaea) in more than fifty dif-
1603-1618 war with Persia, Sultan Ahmet I, decided to ferent tulip designs. The tiles at lower levels are tradi-
build a big mosque in Istanbul to reassert Ottoman power.
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 re-
markable victories. It caused the anger of the ulema, the
Muslim jurists. The mosque was built on the site of the
palace of the Byzantine emperors, in front of the basilica
Ayasofya (at that time, the primary imperial mosque in
Istanbul) and the hippodrome, a site of significant sym-
bolic meaning as it dominated the city skyline from the
south. Big parts of the south shore of the mosque rest on
the foundations, the vaults of the old Grand Palace.[3]
2 Architecture
The Sultan Ahmed Mosque has five main domes, six
point three 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 archi-
tect, Sedefkâr Mehmed Ağa, synthesized the ideas of his
master Sinan, aiming for overwhelming size, majesty and
splendour.[4]
2.1 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 green lace and and monkey slime
1
2 2 ARCHITECTURE

tional in design, while at gallery level their design be-

comes flamboyant with representations of flowers, fruit
and cypresses. The tiles were made under the supervi-
sion of the Iznik master. The price to be paid for each
tile was fixed by the sultan’s decree, while tile prices in Interior view
general increased over time. As a result, the quality of
the tiles used in the building decreased gradually.[5]
The upper levels of the interior are dominated by blue 2.2 Exterior
paint. More than 200 stained glass windows with in-
tricate 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.[6] 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 impres-
sion. The casements at floor level are decorated with opus
sectile. Each exedra has five windows, some of which are
blind. Each semi-dome has 14 windows 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 Ablution facilities
merit.
The facade of the spacious forecourt was built in the same
The most important element in the interior of the mosque manner as the facade of the Süleymaniye Mosque, except
is the mihrab, which is made of finely carved and sculp- for the addition of the turrets on the corner domes. The
tured marble, with a stalactite niche and a double inscrip- court is about as large as the mosque itself and is sur-
tive panel above it. It is surrounded by many windows. rounded by a continuous vaulted arcade (revak). It has
The adjacent walls are sheathed in ceramic tiles. To the ablution facilities on both sides. The central hexagonal
right of the mihrab is the richly decorated minber, or pul- fountain is small relative to the courtyard. The monu-
pit, where the imam stands when he is delivering his ser- mental but narrow gateway to the courtyard stands out
mon at the time of noon prayer on Fridays or on holy architecturally from the arcade. Its semi-dome has a fine
days. The mosque has been designed so that even when stalactite structure, crowned by a small ribbed dome on
it is at its most crowded, everyone in the mosque can see a tall tholobate. Its historical elementary school (Sıbyan
and hear the imam.[5] Mektebi) is used as “Mosque Information Center” which
The royal kiosk is situated at the south-east corner. It is adjacent to its outer wall on the side of Hagia Sophia.
comprises a platform, a loggia and two small retiring This is where they provide visitors with a free orien-
rooms. It gives access to the royal loge in the south-east tational presentation on the Blue Mosque and Islam in
upper gallery of the mosque. These retiring rooms be- general.[11]
came the headquarters of the Grand Vizier during the
suppression of the rebellious Janissary Corps in 1826.
The royal loge (hünkâr mahfil) is supported by ten marble
columns. It has its own mihrab, which used to be deco-
rated with a jade rose and gilt[7] and with one hundred
Qurans on an inlaid and gilded lecterns.[8]
The many lamps inside the mosque were once covered
with gold and gems.[9] Among the glass bowls one could
find ostrich eggs and crystal balls.[10] All these decora-
tions 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
Courtyard of the mosque, at dusk.
Kasim Gubari of Diyarbakır but have been repeatedly
restored.[5]
A heavy iron chain hangs in the upper part of the court
 3

entrance on the western side. Only the sultan was allowed Istanbul, and Emrullah Hatipoğlu, the Imam of the Blue
to enter the court of the mosque on horseback. The chain Mosque.[14]
was put there, so that the sultan had to lower his head The pope “thanked divine Providence for this” and said,
every time he entered the court to avoid being hit. This “May all believers identify themselves with the one God
was a symbolic gesture, to ensure the humility of the ruler and bear witness to true brotherhood.” The pontiff noted
in the face of the divine.[11] that Turkey “will be a bridge of friendship and collab-
oration between East and West”, and he thanked the
2.3 Minarets Turkish people “for the cordiality and sympathy” they
showed him throughout his stay, saying, “he felt loved and
[15]
The Sultan Ahmed Mosque is first one of the two understood.”
mosques in Turkey that has six minarets, the second one
being the Sabancı Mosque in Adana. When the number
of minarets was revealed, the Sultan was criticized for be- 4 Gallery
ing presumptuous, since this was the same minarets num-
ber as at the mosque of the Ka'aba in Mecca. He over- • Play media
came this problem by ordering a seventh minaret to be
built at the Mecca mosque.[12]
A short movie showing details of the Blue Mosque.

• The Blue Mosque.

• Seen from Sultanahmet Square, close to the Hagia

Sophia.

• Arcaded forecourt with one of the entrance gates.

• Prayers inside.

• Blue tiles.

• Gateway to the courtyard.

Minarets of the mosque.
• View of the inner courtyard.
Four minarets stand at the corners of the Blue Mosque. • Prayer area.
Each of these fluted, pencil-shaped minarets has three
balconies (Called Şerefe) with stalactite corbels, while the • Main dome and its blue tiles.
two others at the end of the forecourt only have two bal-
conies. Before the muezzin or prayer caller had to climb • Arcades in the inner courtyard.
a narrow spiral staircase five times a day to announce the
call to prayer.[12] • The blue mosque.

Today, a public announce system is being used, and the • The Blue Mosque.
call can be heard across the old part of the city, echoed
by other mosques in the vicinity. Large crowds of both • One of the minarets of the Blue Mosque.
Turks and tourists gather at sunset in the park facing the
• Prayer
mosque to hear the call to evening prayers, as the sun
sets and the mosque is brilliantly illuminated by colored
floodlights.[12]
5 See also
3 Pope Benedict XVI’s visit and • Islam in Turkey
silent meditation • Ottoman architecture

Pope Benedict XVI visited the Sultan Ahmed Mosque on • List of mosques
30 November 2006 during his visit to Turkey. It marks
• Religion
as only the second papal visit in history to a Muslim place
of worship. Having removed his shoes, the Pope paused • Selimiye Mosque
for a full two minutes, eyes closed in silent meditation,[13]
standing side by side with Mustafa Çağrıcı, the Mufti of • Shah Mosque
4 8 EXTERNAL LINKS

6 Notes • Virtual tour inside Sultan Ahmed Mosque

• Virtual tour inside Sultan Ahmed Mosque (3D

[1] Encyclopedia of architectural and engineering feats, Don-
ald Langmead, Christine Garnaut, page 322, 2001 panoramas)

[2] “Blue Mosque”. bluemosque.co. Retrieved 12 June 2014. • Video of Sultan Ahmend Mosque at dawn call to
prayer
[3] “History”. bluemosque.co. Retrieved 12 June 2014.

[4] “Architecture”. bluemosque.co. Retrieved 12 June 2014.

[5] “Interior”. bluemosque.co. Retrieved 12 June 2014.

[6] “Sultan Ahmet Cami or Blue Mosque”. MuslimHer-

itage.com. Retrieved 2012-01-26.

[7] Öz, T., “Sultan Ahmet Camii' in Vakiflar Dergisi, I,

Ankara, 1938

[8] Evliya Efendi, Narrative of travels in Europe, Asia, and

Africa in the seventeenth century; London, 1846

[9] Naima M., Annals of the Turkish Empire from 1591 to

1659 of the Christian Era; Frazer, London, 1832

[10] Tournefort, J.P., Marquis de, Relation d'un voyage du Lev-

ant, Amsterdam, 1718

[11] “Exterior”. bluemosque.co. Retrieved 12 June 2014.

[12] “Minarets”. bluemosque.co. Retrieved 12 June 2014.

[13] “Pope Benedict XVI Visits Turkey’s Famous Blue

Mosque”. Fox News. 2006-11-30. Retrieved 2011-10-
19.

[14] “Pope makes Turkish mosque visit”. BBC News. 2006-

11-30. Retrieved 2012-01-26.

[15] “Pope: In mosque I prayed to the one God for all

mankind”. Asianews.it. 2006-06-12. Retrieved 2012-01-
26.

7 References
• Goodwin G., “A History of Ottoman Architecture";
Thames & Hudson Ltd., London, reprinted 2003;
ISBN 0-500-27429-0

• Turner, J. (ed.) - Grove Dictionary of Art - Ox-

ford University Press, USA; New edition (January
2, 1996); ISBN 0-19-517068-7

• Sheila S. Blair, Jonathan M. Bloom - “The Art and

Architecture of Islam, 1250-1800”, Yale University
Press, 1994; ISBN 0-300-05888-8

8 External links
• Photos of the Blue Mosque

• http://www.bluemosque.co / Website About Blue

Mosque - Istanbul
 5

9 Text and image sources, contributors, and licenses

9.1 Text
• Sultan Ahmed Mosque Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sultan_Ahmed_Mosque?oldid=702924803 Contributors: Bryan Derksen,
Espen, Deb, Michael Hardy, Liftarn, Egil, Ahoerstemeier, Jiang, Adam Bishop, Bemoeial, Phoebe, Joy, Warofdreams, Jfruh, Adam Carr,
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car, Andrewpmk, Karl.Kirst, Saga City, Grenavitar, BDD, Ghirlandajo, Deror avi, Mpatel, Fred J, Bluemoose, Isewell, Saperaud~enwiki,
Rjwilmsi, Ceinturion, Gryffindor, Hiberniantears, Vegaswikian, Bhadani, Randolph, Ev, Karelj, Akhenaten0, Ahunt, NEWUSER, Cia-
Pan, Chobot, OsvaldoGago, YurikBot, Me, but logged in, CARPEDIEM, RussBot, Anonymous editor, Supasheep, Rsrikanth05, GeeJo,
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mos, Antidiskriminator, Gould363, EmausBot, WikitanvirBot, Jkadavoor, Wikipelli, AsceticRose, HiW-Bot, Josve05a, DragonTiger23,
Smzia84, Joshua Doubek, KazekageTR, Panasonix, ChrisC550, Mjbmrbot, Florence the Machine, Petrb, ClueBot NG, Prioryman, M.
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Frosty, Solarislv, Dman2714, Wiki,haseeb, Ahmet Gürsakal, LouisAragon, Ithinkicahn, Peterpacz1, UltimateGamer84, Gani94, Min-
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