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THE BLUE MOSQUE
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The 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 Istanbulthe 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.Here the predominant color is blue, from which the building derives the popular name Blue Mosque. What is original and very few in the decoration of the interior is the covering of tiles on the lower part of the walls, especially in the galleries.They are ‹znik tiles of the best period and they deserve study.The magnificient floral desifns display the traditional lily, carnation, tulip and rose motifs, and also cypress and other trees, all in exquisite colors; subtle blues and greens predominating.The mihrab and mimber, of white Proconnesian marble, are also original ,they are fine examples of the carved stonework of that period.Of equal excellence is the bronze work of the great courtyard doors, and the woodwork, encrusted with ivory and mother of pearl, of the doors and window-shutters of the mosque itself.Under the sultan's lodge the wooden ceiling is painted with floral and geometrical arebesques in that exquisite early style in reach and gorgeous colorsof which so few examples remain.
The kulliye of Sultan Ahmet was appropriately extensive; including a hospital, kervansaray, primary school, public kitchen, market, mausoleum, and medrese, or college.
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Email:
usaahmet@superonline.com
Website:
http://www.zyworld.com/ahmeto/akkaya.htm
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