Blue mosque istanbul history – Sultan Ahmed Mosque

The reign of Sultan Ahmed I, who was barely 13 years old when he became sultan, began in 1603. It was he who ordered the construction of the stunning Sultan Ahmed Mosque (Sultanahmet Camii in Turkish). The mosque was built between 1609 and 1616 by architect Sedefkâr Mehmed Aa. It was Ahmed I’s goal to build a mosque that would rival the Hagia Sophia in terms of beauty, and the architect delivered. He built a new mosque right next to the Hagia Sophia to prove that he was superior to the previous one.

The Blue Mosque is said to be the final magnificent mosque of the classical era. It combines two architectural styles: Byzantine Christian and traditional Islamic features. Parts of the Grand Palace of Constantinople were demolished to make way for this massive structure.

Five major domes, eight minor domes, and six minarets distinguish the mosque. Only three mosques in Turkey have as many minarets as this one. It has a large and magnificent courtyard with elegant décor. There are a lot of amazing details to be found there!

There was only one mosque in the world with six minarets until the Blue Mosque was built: the mosque of the Ka’aba in Mecca.

According to legend, the six minarets were erected by mistake. The monarch reportedly instructed the architect to create a mosque with golden minarets, known in Turkish as “altn minareler.” The architect believed he wanted six minarets, which is pronounced “alt minareler” in Turkish. Another theory is that the architect chose six minarets because the gold ones were too costly to construct.

Religious authorities saw the construction of a mosque with six minarets as insulting to Mecca’s Ka’aba. To prevent this crime, Sultan Ahmed authorized the addition of a seventh minaret to the Ka’aba mosque. It’s unknown if this narrative is accurate, or whether the seventh minaret existed before the Blue Mosque was built.

The solution to the question of why it is named the Blue Mosque may be found within. The mosque’s interior is decorated with beautiful Islamic-style embellishments that give it an exotic feel. The Blue Mosque’s interior is adorned with Qur’anic verses and Prophet Muhammad’s sayings.

If you glance around, you’ll see the gorgeous blue ceramic tiles that cover the interior of the domes, which gave the mosque its name. Traditional Ottoman motifs such as flowers, carnations, fruits, tulips, and more are shown on these handcrafted tiles. They originated from the town of znik, which is well-known for its beautiful ornamental tiles.

Natural light streams into the mosque’s top floors via more than 200 beautiful stained glass windows. The ceiling is also adorned with massive chandeliers. To keep spiders and their webs away, they used to put ostrich eggs between the oil lamps.

A crimson carpet covers the floor, which is renewed when it wears out and is frequently given by religious people.

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Respect the restrictions while visiting the Blue Mosque, since it is a fully working religious structure. Non-worshipers are not permitted to enter the mosque during the five daily prayer hours, so :

• arrange your trips appropriately.
• Make sure you’re dressed suitably and that your legs and shoulders are covered, as well as your head if you’re a woman.
• Remove your shoes before entering the mosque and place them in the plastic bag provided at the entrance.

 Although Is entry to Blue Mosque free, contributions are warmly welcomed.

There are plenty of other things to do and see if you’re in the region! Wander the streets and marvel at the two obelisks and snake column, as well as the Hippodrome and the Firuz Aga Mosque. When hunger strikes, one of the numerous cafès and restaurants on Tavukhane Street is a good place to go.

The Blue Mosque and Its Surrounds audiovisual guide from Cultural Places is the ideal method to learn about the Blue Mosque and its surroundings at your own speed. Visit the city’s greatest attractions, learn about its history, and relax. Check out our other digital audioguides in Istanbul if you want to learn more!

The Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace, the Archeology Museum, the Basilica Cistern, and the Grand Bazaar are all adjacent to the Istanbul Blue Mosque, which is located in the ancient old city. You may also pay a visit to Sultan Ahmed I’s tomb, which is situated northwest of the mosque, just beyond the precinct wall. It is free to view, much like the mosque, and is ornately adorned with additional 17th-century Iznik tiles.

There are a variety of lodging alternatives nearby to suit all budgets since it is located in the most popular touristic district. The Four Seasons Sultanahmet and the Armada Sultanahmet are two of the most luxurious hotels in the area.