Mımar Sınan's Mosques
MIMAR SINAN'S MOSQUES
SEHZADE MEHMED MOSQUE
Şehzade Mosque was built by Kanuni Sultan Süleyman in the name of his son Şehzade Mehmet, who died at a young age. While the governor of Suleiman the Magnificent, Prince Mehmed Saruhan, passed away in 1543 at the age of 22. The Sultan had the mosque built by Mimar Sinan between 1543-48.
Its 18.42m dome leans against four large semi-domes. The fountain courtyard has 16 domes with 12 columns. It has double minarets with two balconies. Imaret and madrasah, tabhane, tombs are in the garden of the mosque and in the back street.
The interior of the Şehzade tomb is decorated with colorful tiles. The sarcophagus in the middle is Şehzade Mehmed, the right is Şehzade Cihangir, and the left is the Hümaşah Sultan sarcophagus. Rüstem Pasha Tomb is located on the left side of the Şehzade tomb. Other prince tombs are on the side of Vefa. There are Ibrahim Pasha Tomb and Destari Mustafa Pasha Tomb in the outer courtyard.
Mimar Sinan, the great architect of Suleiman the Magnificent and the most brilliant period of the Ottoman Empire, completed the Şehzade Mosque and complex in four years between 1544-48. In an evaluation he made later, Koca Sinan said, "Prince apprenticeship, Süleymaniye journeyman, Edirne Selimiye are my master works." Here, Şehzade Mosque is the first step of these three monuments, which are the main periods in Sinan's architectural genius.
The simplicity and decoration seen in the works of Mimar Sinan are also seen in this mosque. The large outer courtyard of the Şehzade Mosque has six doors. The double minarets with two balconies on either side of the main door wall of the mosque are among the most striking parts of the building. The simplicity of other mosques and minarets is absent here. The decoration of Koca Sinan in these minarets is unique.
“It is the last point of the development of the cross-like plan typology sitting within the square within the framework of the Ottoman architectural tradition. The previous steps of this development are seen in the Üç Şerefeli Mosque in Edirne, the old Fatih Mosque and the Mihrimah Sultan mosques in Üsküdar. ”Although Mimar Sinan achieved more advanced architectural solutions than the Şehzade Mosque in the Süleymaniye and Selimiye mosques, which he later built, the Şehzade Mosque was planned. Its scheme has been admired in 17th century mosques such as the Blue Mosque and Yeni Mosque.
For the first time in Ottoman architecture, portico was used in exterior architecture instead of massive walls. The courtyard of the Şehzade Mosque, together with the Beyazıd Mosque courtyard, is considered one of the most balanced and beautiful courtyards in Ottoman Architecture. It is a unique building in terms of decorative features. It has gone beyond the tendency to simplify since the 15th century. The emphasis of the multi-color, the decorative elements brought to the exterior of the building and the surface decorations of the minarets are the unique structure. The mihrab, pulpit and muezzin loge are made of marble.
SULEYMANIYE MOSQUE
Süleymaniye Mosque, which Mimar Sinan defined as his journeyman work, was built between 1551-1558 by the order of the Ottoman sultan Süleyman the Magnificent. Süleymaniye Mosque is one of the most important examples of Classical Ottoman Architecture. The dome of the mosque, which has four minarets, two with three balconies and two with two balconies, is 53 meters high. It is rumored that the first stone of the temple, which was started to be built in one of the most beautiful places of Istanbul, was laid by the great scholar Sheikh al-Islam Ebussuud Efendi.
The shrine has one main dome, two semi-domes and two quarter domes and ten small domes. Main dome on four elephant feet; dome arches rest on four large granite columns. The dome with 32 windows is 27.25 meters in diameter and 53 meters above the ground. There are 64 cubes of 50 cm length that are placed inside the dome and in the corners, with an open mouth inside to reinforce the reflection of the sedan (sound), thus creating a sensitive acoustics. The mosque, which has an interior area of approximately 3 thousand 500 square meters, is 59 meters long and 58 meters wide and receives light from 238 windows. The sultan and muezzin loge based on granite and marble columns draws attention with their minbar and mihrab workmanship. The section surrounded by metal networks to the right of the muezzin chamber was used as a library until 1918; Existing books were transferred to the Public Library established in Süleymaniye Madrasahs on the same date.
In front of the mosque, which has five doors, there are colored windows above the mihrab. The windows, which are the work of İbrahim Usta, the well-known master of the era, compare the sunlight entering through their windows to Mimar Sinan Şehper-i Cibril (Gabriel's Wings). There are four very precious granite columns in the mosque and they were brought to the mosque from Alexandria, Baalbek, Kıztaşı and Saray-ı Amire in Istanbul. Mimar Sinan compares these four columns, each of which is 9.02 meters high, 1.14 meters in diameter and 40-50 tons, to the Four Caliphs.
The mosque has four minarets and ten balconies built in a style suitable for its majesty. Two of the minarets have three balconies and the other two each have two balconies. The minarets called "mosque minarets" and "Harem Minarets" were the fourth sultan with the conquest of Istanbul by Kanuni; all ten cheers indicate that he was the 10th sultan of the Ottoman Empire. The minarets rising towards the sky resemble a person praying by raising both hands. The scriptures in the mosque are the work of the famous calligrapher Ahmet Karahisarî and his student Hasan Çelebi. Later, Kazasker Mustafa Efendi added some articles.
Except for a few of the articles, the text of all the texts was taken from the Quran and processed in a skillful way. The inscription written on the door that enters the mosque from the inner courtyard is divided into three parts as right-middle-left. In the first chapter, the qualities of Kanuni are counted, in the second chapter his pedigree (lineage) is specified in succession, and in the third chapter, after the continuation of the sultanate and prayer to the spirits of the past, the superior qualities of the temple are stated with what intention and when. The tomb in front of the mihrab belongs to Suleiman the Magnificent, who built a mosque with his own money, and the tomb next to it belongs to Hürrem Sultan. The garden of the mosque, which has an area of approximately 6 thousand square meters, has 11 doors.
KILIÇ ALI PASHA MOSQUE
The Mosque Built on the Sea
The great Turkish sailor Kılıç Ali Pasha wanted to build a mosque to maintain his reputation. Sultan III. He appeared before Murad and expressed his wish. The Sultan said, "You are the serdars of the sea. Go and set up your mosque! " Kılıç Ali Pasha realized a first in history.
This mosque is a work that has become a part of our cultural history with its legends as well as its architectural beauty. Mimar Sinan had built three beautiful mosques along the same beach for three captains. Others are Piyâle Pasha mosques in Kasımpaşa and Sinan Pasha mosques in Beşiktaş.
Undoubtedly, Kılıç Ali Pasha is one of the brightest figures of Turkish maritime. It is considered one of the greatest of all seafarers, not only in our country. He is a prisoner of Italian origin. According to a rumor, his parents were Turkmens living on the Aydın coast. Saint Jean was kidnapped by his knights and taken to Italy. Ali grew up in the Calabria town of Castelli as a maid of an Italian nobleman. He was called Lucio or Culyo Galeni. At the age of 11, he was sent to Naples to study at the priest school. On the way, he was captured by Algerian Muslim pirates. When Ali Ahmed Reis, the commander of this profiteering, learned the situation of the boy, he took him with him.
It is now known as Uluç Ali, which is distorted from its Italian name. In one rumor, uluç was the name given to non-Arab pirates. Some say that he is of Italian origin, not Turkish. Regardless of his race, Uluç Ali grew up in the Ottoman society with a Turkish-Islamic education. He became one of the world famous sailors. European historians called him Occhiali.
Has never defeated
He drew attention with his intelligence, talent and proper physique. He never dismissed those who rely on him. He was brought up under the auspices of Barbaros Hayreddin Pasha. He showed himself in shipping. He devoted his life to the service of the country. Running from victory to victory, he had his name written in gold letters in history. He never tasted defeat in his life. His most famous success is the conquest of a country like Tunisia from the Spanish.
The Ottoman navy experienced the pain of defeat for the first time in 1571 against the Papal, Maltese, Venetian and Spanish allied navies. 152 pieces of ships were lost. There were thousands of martyrs and wounded. Even his captain was martyred. Kılıç Ali Pasha managed to save the ships he commanded in this naval battle, almost without loss. Moreover, it destroyed the Maltese navy, which constituted the enemy's left wing.
Sultan II, whose news of the defeat was in Edirne. He reported to Selim. He was brought to the captain because of his success. Thus, he became the commander of the Ottoman navy. He remained in this office for sixteen years. Uluç's nickname was changed to Kılıç. Uluç Ali Reis was now Kılıç Ali Pasha.
Kılıç Ali Pasha; He was known not only for his achievements in history, but also for his charity. The elegant and magnificent complex that bears its name in Istanbul is still standing. Thus, this hero immortalizes the name of the Turkish sailor.
Built it on the sea!
The age of the great Turkish sailor Kılıç Ali Pasha had advanced considerably. He wanted to leave a work that would maintain his reputation. It would have a mosque with its bath, public fountain and madrasah. He was in the post of captain-i derya, one of the strongest positions of the state, but still, like other statesmen of the time, he habitually did nothing without asking the sultan.
For this purpose, Sultan III. He appeared before Murad and expressed his wish. After receiving the approval of the Sultan, he asked where it would be appropriate to do this work. The Sultan said, “You are the serdars of the sea. I cannot give you a piece of land from the land. Go and set up your mosque! " said. Kılıç Ali Pasha "Aye!" and asked permission. He met with Mimar Sinan and said that the building will be built on the sea.
The Sultan later said, "My purpose was grace, let him build his mosque wherever he wishes, not to be burdened with so much!" Although he sent the news, he did not give up from fulfilling the first order of the sultan. "The word comes out of the mouth of the Sultan once. No way not to keep it! Inna'l-mulûke inspired (Allah makes the rulers say!) ”He thought. Thereupon, Koca Sinan filled the sea at Tophane beach. The construction of the Kılıç Ali Pasha Mosque, which stands on it even today with all its majesty and grace, and its complex consisting of a madrasa, a bathhouse and a public fountain were completed in 1580.
There are half domes on both sides of the mosque dome, arches and support walls on the other two sides. In this state, it is almost like a small mosque of Hagia Sophia. But it is more spacious and bright than it. Iznik tiles in the mihrab are very beautiful. Even if the grand vizier was a grand vizier in the Ottoman period, nobody could have two minarets built. This concession belonged to the sultan. For him, Kılıç Ali Pasha Mosque has a single minaret. For this reason, its dome is smaller than the mosques of selatin.
It is believed among the public that anyone who performs the morning prayer in the Kılıç Ali Pasha mosque without interruption will definitely see Hızır Aleyyisselam.
MİHRİMAH SULTAN MOSQUE
The construction of the complex, which was built by Mimar Sinan by Mihrimah Sultan, the daughter of Suleiman the Magnificent, lasted from 1562 to 1565 and was severely damaged in the earthquake of 1719. There is a mosque, madrasa, primary school, tomb, bath and bazaar.
According to his foundation, the mosque construction was completed in as little as three years. This complex, which is the work of Sinan, consists of a 17-cell madrasa, a primary school, a double bath, the tomb where Mihrimah Sultan's daughter Ayşe Hanım and Damadı Güzel Ahmed Pasha were buried, a fountain and a row of shops.
The mosque was heavily damaged by the earthquake in H.1132 / AD.1719 and its domes collapsed. After many years of repair, the minaret collapsed and the domes of the last congregation place collapsed in the earthquake in H.1312 / M.1894, and the restoration began at the beginning of the 20th century by the Ministry of Foundations. Later, in the middle of the same century, the extensive repair of the complex was discussed.
The mosque has a rectangular plan and exquisite. With a new research in this mosque, Sinan built 19 m. In diameter and 27 m. It expands the large main dome in height with three half-height domes that are opened sideways with arches.
The minaret of the mosque with a lead cone made of cut stone with a single balcony was made thinner compared to the original. Therefore, it does not comply with the proportions of Sinan period. The interior of the mosque has a bright and spacious place with its 204 windows and hand-carved ornaments, sultan's loge.
The mosque, which has three entrance gates, and the prayer area on the outside is 900 m2 in total. In the courtyard of the mosque surrounded by the U-shaped madrasah rooms, there is a fountain with 16 styles, a conical roof and a marble bowl, and the courtyard is entered through two doors. The primary school, located on the right side of the mosque, has two rooms, one with a dome and the other with a mirror vault, with a geometric interlocking, marble doorway. The mosque has a large garden at the front and a well used.
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