The Blue Mosque

The Blue Mosque

The Blue Mosque, also known as the Sultan Ahmed Mosque (Turkish: Sultan Ahmet Camii), is a historic imperial mosque in Istanbul, Turkey, that dates back to the Ottoman era. Built during Ahmed I's reign between 1609 and 1617, it is still in use as a mosque today. It is one of the most recognizable and well-liked structures of Ottoman architecture and draws a lot of tourists.Four semi-domes round the central dome of the mosque, which features a traditional Ottoman design over the prayer hall. It has six minarets on either side and a sizable courtyard in front. The mosque's well-known moniker comes from the hundreds of Iznik tiles and painted flower designs in mostly blue that adorn its interior. The madrasa, Ahmed's tomb, and a number of additional structures in varying levels of preservation are all part of the mosque's külliye, or religious complex.

The mosque is located across from the Hagia Sophia, another well-liked tourist destination, and was constructed next to the old Hippodrome. In 1985, the Blue Mosque was listed as one of the "Historic Areas of Istanbul" UNESCO World Heritage Sites.Sultan Ahmed I made the decision to construct a sizable mosque in Istanbul in the hopes of requesting God's favor following the Peace of Zsitvatorok, which was perceived as a setback to Ottoman prestige.Since Murad III and Mehmed III had failed to build their own imperial mosques, he was the first sultan to do so since Selim II (d. 1574).The mosque's design is modeled after the previous Şehzade Mosque, which was created in the early 16th century by Mimar Sinan. The prayer hall features a central dome that is 23.5 meters (77 feet) in diameter and is 64 by 72 meters (210 by 236 feet).Four semi-domes, each bordered by three smaller semi-domes or exedrae, round the dome. The prayer hall's corners are covered by four smaller domes. The mosque's external features include a spacious courtyard in front of the prayer hall, six minarets, and ablutions facilities.

 

In order to achieve overwhelming immensity, majesty, and splendor, Sedefkar Mehmed Agha, the mosque's builder, combined the concepts of his teacher Sinan.The mosque was the pinnacle of the architect's career, according to his official biographer.The building combines elements of Byzantine architecture from the nearby Hagia Sophia with Islamic architecture, reflecting the classical Ottoman style of the time.During this classical era, it was the final major mosque.Iznik tiles, a type of tilework named after their primary production center, İznik (ancient Nicaea), decorate the mosque's lower walls, particularly those around the galleries. These tiles were highly valued by Ahmed I, and during the building of his mosque, the entire Iznik business was focused on producing tiles for it. In order to fulfill his own commissions on schedule, the sultan even banned the production and selling of tiles for any other purpose in 1613, although orders for tiles had been coming in steadily since 1607.

The Blue Mosque is one of five mosques in Turkey with six minarets, along with the Green Mosque in Arnavutköy, the Çamlıca Mosque in Üsküdar, the Muğdat Mosque in Mersin, and the contemporary Sabancı Mosque in Adana. The Sultan's request for "altın minareler" (gold minarets) was allegedly misinterpreted by an architect as "altı minare" (six minarets), which at the time was exclusive to the Ka'aba mosque in Mecca. The Sultan then authorized the construction of a seventh minaret at the mosque in Mecca after being chastised for his assumption.A thin, conical cap sits atop each of the six fluted minaret towers. While the two minarets at the courtyard's outer corners each have two balconies, the four minarets rising at the corners of the prayer hall each have three balconies (şerefe). Corbeling carved with muqarnas supports each balcony. Throughout their history, the minarets have undergone several repairs.In the past, in order to proclaim the call to prayer five times a day, the muezzin had to ascend a little spiral staircase inside the minarets.Over the sphendone, the semi-circular southwest end of the Hippodrome, four further intricate constructions were constructed. The hospital (darüşşifa), a square structure centered on an interior courtyard, was the biggest and most distant structure. Its construction was finished in 1620, having started in 1609. It included a tiny mosque and a hammam (bathhouse).The mosque, which is accessible from 8:30 to 18:00 and is closed during prayer times, is open for exploration by visitors and is still a working house of worship. One of Istanbul's most popular tourist destinations, the Blue Mosque is located near to the Hagia Sophia and draws both domestic and foreign visitors. For those seeking a more in-depth experience, guided excursions are also offered.The quickest route from Taksim Square to the Blue Mosque is to take the F1 Funicular to Kabataş (2 minutes), catch the T1 Tram to Bağcılar, and get out at Sultanahmet Station (20 minutes). The mosque is four minutes' walk away.

 

By Admin

26 May 2025

Similar Train Routes

Gaziantep Zeugma Mosaic Museum

Gaziantep Zeugma Mosaic Museum

With 1700 square meters of mosaics, the Zeugma Mosaic Museum in Gaziantep, Turkey, is the largest mosaic museum in the world. Public access began on September 9, 2011. With 2,448 m2 (26,350 sq ft) of mosaic, the 30,000 m2 (320,000 sq ft) museum surpasses the Bardo National Museum in Tunis as the largest mosaic museum in the world. Zeugma, the subject of the museum's Hellenistic Greek and Roman mosaics, is believed to have been established as Seleucia by Seleucus I Nicator, the founder of the Seleucid Kingdom, who had previously served as a hetairoi military officer in Alexander the Great's army.Before objects started to show up in museums and plans for additional dams on the Euphrates meant that much of Zeugma would be submerged in 2000, the riches, including the mosaics, were largely unknown.Many of the mosaics are still covered in 2011, and research teams are still working on the project.Address: Hacı Sani Konukoğlu Boulevard, Mithatpaşa, 27500 Şehitkamil/Gaziantep, Turkey.The museum is situated in the southeast Turkish city of Gaziantep. With frequent flights from major Turkish cities like Istanbul and Ankara, Gaziantep is conveniently accessible by air. The museum is conveniently located in the Şehitkamil area, which has excellent public transportation connections.

AniTurkey

AniTurkey

Located in the Kars district of Turkey, close to the closed border with Armenia, is the abandoned medieval Armenian city of Ani . It served as the capital of the Bagratid Armenian empire, which ruled over most of modern-day Armenia and eastern Turkey, from 961 to 1045. The famous city was frequently called the "City of 1,001 Churches," even though there were actually far fewer. Archaeologists and historians have so far excavated 20 chapels, 33 cave chapels, and 50 churches.Ani stood on several trade routes, and its numerous palaces, religious structures, and advanced fortifications set it apart from other modern Armenian kingdom cities. Its ribbed vaulting would not be seen in European cathedrals for at least another two centuries. One of its most notable structures was the Cathedral of Ani, which is linked to early examples of Gothic architecture and that academics contend influenced the great cathedrals of Europe in the early gothic and Romanesque styles. With a population of well over 100,000 at its peak, Ani was among the biggest cities in the world, however this sounds extremely optimistic considering its small size.Ani, which was famous for its beauty, was taken over by the Mongols in 1236. Ani was deserted by the 17th century after failing to recover from a major earthquake in 1319 and, more importantly, from the relocation of regional trade routes.For Armenians, ani is a well-known symbol of their national heritage, culture, and religion.Razmik Panossian claims that Ani is a source of pride because it is one of the most obvious and "tangible" reminders of Armenia's historical splendor.It was included on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2016. The Ani Archaeological Site has changed from a site of violence and geopolitical instability to a hub for cultural tourism that might promote cross-cultural interaction and enhance historical comprehension after two decades of persistent international efforts.

Pergamon

Pergamon

A wealthy and influential ancient Greek city in Aeolis, Pergamon or Pergamum is also known by its modern Greek version, Pergamos (Πέργαμoς). It is situated northwest of the present-day Turkish city of Bergama and on a point on the north side of the river Caicus (present-day Bakırçay), 26 kilometers (16 miles) from the Aegean Sea's contemporary coastline.From 281 until 133 BC, it served as the capital of the Kingdom of Pergamon during the Hellenistic era. The Attalid dynasty turned it into one of the most important Greek cultural hubs. Numerous remnants of its monuments, particularly the Pergamon Altar's magnificence, are still visible.The New Testament Book of Revelation mentions seven churches in Asia, the northernmost of which was Pergamon.The city's acropolis is situated on a 335-meter (1,100-foot) high andesite mesa. Three naturally occurring terraces on the south side of this mesa offer a path to the summit, while the north, west, and east sides of the mesa drop off dramatically. The Cetius River (present-day Kestelçay) runs by to the east of the acropolis, and the Selinus River (present-day Bergamaçay) flows through the city to the west. As a traveler, you can visit Pergamon in September and October, a period when the weather is more moderate. In addition, April and May are also quite ideal for a visit. Acropolis means ‘city above.’ Locally, the Pergamon Acropolis is called ‘castle hill.’    

Patara

Patara

The historic and thriving marine and commercial city of Patara served as Lycia's capital for a while. The location is in Antalya Province, next to the settlement of Gelemiş, on the Turkish coast. Saint Nicholas spent the majority of his life at the neighboring town of Myra after being born there in 270. The site has only been partially excavated and refurbished. Archaeologists and unauthorized developers have fought over the site's archeology and protection.In Hittite writings, Patara was called Patar: "King Tudhaliya IV (1236-1210 BC), after the Lukka expedition, came to this city with his army and made offerings." The location is a plain encircled by hills, and it once had a sizable natural harbor before it was silted up. Tepecik Hill, northeast of the harbor, is home to a Bronze Age settlement and the acropolis where the city was first established. Later, the city expanded westward and southward from the hill.After an earthquake in 147 AD, Antoninus Pius restored the theater, which has a 265-foot circle and can accommodate roughly 6000 people.The prytaneion, also known as the Bouleuterion, has been extensively renovated and is in good preservation. It was the Lycian League's capital assembly hall, with a view of the Agora theater to the east. It housed roughly 1400 people when it was built in the early 1st century BC. A tribunalia, with seats designated for governors, sits in the middle of the cavea. The incorporation of Lycia as a Roman province, most likely under Claudius (r. 43–51 AD) or Nero (r. 51–69), is associated with the earliest changes, when the cavea was enlarged and the semicircular wall in the west was connected to the northern and southern walls. It was also intended to serve as a concert theater, but following a significant earthquake in 142/143 AD, a stage construction was constructed inside and a stoa was added outside (Odeion). It was added as a bastion to the new fortress wall in the fifth century AD.

Mount Nemrut

Mount Nemrut

Mount Nemrut, also known as Nemrud, is a 2,134-meter (7,001-foot) peak in southeast Turkey that is well-known for the numerous enormous statues that have been placed atop what is thought to be a first-century BC royal tomb. It is among the tallest peaks in the Taurus Mountains' eastern region.The mountain is located close to Adıyaman, 40 kilometers (25 mi) north of Kahta. King Antiochus I of Commagene constructed a tomb-sanctuary on top of the mountain in 62 BC. It was flanked by enormous sculptures of himself, two lions, two eagles, and several composite Greek and Iranian gods, including Heracles-Artagnes-Ares, Zeus-Oromasdes, and Apollo-Mithras-Helios-Hermes, that were 8 to 9 meters (26 to 30 feet) high.In order to revitalize the religion of his ancestral dynasty, Antiochus drew extensively from Parthian and Armenian traditions when creating this pantheon. Originally seated, the statues bore the names of all the gods. The statues are now dispersed over the site after their heads were eventually taken off of their bodies. It appears from the pattern of damage to the heads—especially to the noses—that iconoclasm caused the harm on purpose. The statues have not been put back where they were. Additionally, stone slabs with bas-relief sculptures that are believed to have constituted a vast frieze are preserved at the site. The Greek and Persian forefathers of Antiochus are portrayed on these stones, or stelae.The site's tumulus, which is 49 meters (161 feet) high and 152 meters (499 feet) in circumference, has the same statues and ancestors that are seen throughout the site. Given that any excavation would soon fill in, it is probable that the tumulus of loose rock was created to keep robbers away from a tomb. The statues' faces seem Greek, but their hair and attire are Persian.