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This mosque was built
by Sultan Ahmet I during 1609-1616 in the square carrying
his name in Istanbul. The architect is Sedefhar Mehmet Aga.
It is the only mosque in Turkey with six minarets. The
mosque is 64 x 72 m in dimensions. The central dome is 43
m in height and is 33.4 m in diameter. 260 windows
surround the mosque. Due to its beautiful blue, green and
white tilings it has been named the "Blue Mosque" by
Europeans. The inscriptions were made by Seyyid Kasim
Gubari.
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interior furnishings of Sultan Ahmet Camii
are typical of those of the other imperial
mosques in Istanbul.The most important
element in the interior of any mosque is
the mihrab, a niche set into the center of
the wall opposite the main entrance.The
purpose of the mihrab is to indicate the
kible, the direction of the holy city
Mecca, toward which the faithful mast face
when they perform their prayers.In the
great mosques of Istanbul the mihrab is
invaribly quite grand, with the niche
itself made of finely carved and
sculptured marble and the adjacent wall
sheathed in ceramic tiles.To the right of
the mihrab we see the mimber, 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 is flooded with light from its 260
windows. |
These were once
filled with colored glass which would have
tempered the too-crude brightness; now they are
slowly being replaced with modern immitations.The
painted arebesquesin the domes and upper parts
of the building are less good than examples of
this type of decoration from 16th and 17th
century, when they were reachly elaborate in
design and somberly magnificiant in color.
For more information
please send us e-mail
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reservation@istanbulhotelsweb.com
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