The Blue Mosque

The Blue Mosque

 

Location and the reason behind its name 

 

The Sultan Ahmed Mosque, popularly known as The Blue Mosque, is located in Istanbul, Turkey. The mosque is often referred to as the “blue mosque” because of the unique blue tiles and interior decoration that intensifies the beauty of the internal design of the mosque. This very beautiful and unique mosque is one of the most visited places in Western Asia, even though it is an Islamic place of worship, it is often flooded by both Islamic and non-Islamic tourists from all over the world. In this article, we shall be talking about all the things you need to know about this wonderful place, starting from its history, its amazing architecture, and lots more. 

 

History of The Blue Mosque 

 

 The Blue Mosque was built by the Ottoman Sultan Ahmed I between the years 1609 to 1616. At this time, it was a common practice for sultans to build mosques to show their appreciation to God and also name them after themselves. This was what Sultan Ahmed the first also had in mind when he decided to build a mosque of the utmost beauty and significance. To complete the mosque, the sultan employed the services of Sedefkar Mehemet Aga, who was one of the greatest architects who were alive at that time. The emperor chose the Ayse Sultan Palace as the perfect place for the magnificent mosque to be built because that particular location overlooked the sea, and the surroundings were not too crowded. The construction of the wonderful mosque took a total of 7 years, 5 months, and some days. After the total construction, the building was opened to a fascinating ceremony on Friday, June 12, 1616. The Blue Mosque has served as a major place of worship and tourism ever since.

 

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The architecture of The Blue Mosque

 

The Blue Mosque is a unique masterpiece, blending two centuries of Ottoman design with elements from traditional Islamic and neighboring Byzantine architecture. Designed by Sedefkâr Mehmet Ağa to achieve overwhelming size and splendor in the style of his master, Sinan, it is celebrated as the last great mosque of the classical period. Its one-of-a-kind structure features a majestic cascade of domes, six slender minarets, and an interior famously adorned with thousands of blue İznik tiles, setting it apart from any other building in the world.

What are the main architectural highlights to see inside?

The interior is famous for its blue Iznik tile work, the central dome reaching 43 meters in height, and more than 200 stained-glass windows that illuminate the main prayer space.

 

The exterior of Sultan Ahmed Mosque

 

The façade of the forecourt was designed in the same way as the forecourt of the famous Suleymaniye Mosque was designed by the great architect Mimar Sinan, who was Sedefkar’s teacher. It is decorated with rectangular zinc tile window lunettes with the addition of turrets on the corner domes.

The Grand Courtyard


The entrance to the Blue Mosque is through a massive, beautiful courtyard almost as big as the mosque itself. It’s surrounded by arched walkways and has a stunning hexagonal fountain at its center. Above the main western gate, you’ll spot a heavy iron chain. This was hung low for a very specific reason: even the Sultan had to lower his head when entering on horseback, a powerful reminder of humility before God.

 

The Famous Minarets


The Blue Mosque is instantly recognizable by its six slender minarets, which were a truly daring and unique feature when it was built. Traditionally, the call to prayer was made from these towers. While today's calls are broadcast by speakers, the six minarets still stand as a bold symbol of the mosque's grandeur and ambition.

 

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Interior of The Blue Mosque

 

Once you step into the interior of the mosque, you can easily see where the blue mosque gets its name from. The interior of The Blue Mosque is decorated with up to 20,000 handmade brilliant ceramic blue tiles made at Iznik in more than fifty different tulip designs. The lower tiles hold simple traditional designs, while the upper tiles hold more flamboyant representations of nature, such as beautiful flowers, fruits, birds, and more. 


At the upper level of the interior, there are up to 200 stained glass windows with amazing decorations to support natural light. Also, on the chandeliers, there are ostrich eggs that are believed to help repel spiders and prevent cobwebs in the mosque. 


Finally, the most important part of The Blue Mosque interior is the Mihrab, which is made from finely carved and sculptured marble, with a stalactite niche. The double inscriptive panel above it is surrounded by many windows, and the adjacent walls are sheathed with tiles, thus creating a very beautiful and perfect scenery. 

 

 

Why is The Blue Mosque Famous?

 

Although there are a lot of reasons for the fame of The Blue Mosque, the major reason for the fame of this mosque is its unique structures and beautiful designs that the mosque has. The six Minarets, the unique interior blue designs, and the amazing chandeliers are some of the few fascinating things that contribute to its fame.

 

What are the Blue Mosque's official name and historical significance?

The building's official name is the Sultanahmet Mosque, built between 1609 and 1616 during the rule of Ahmed I. It is a defining monument of Ottoman architecture, renowned for its six minarets and majestic central dome.

What are the visitor hours and are there any entry fees?

The mosque is open to visitors every day but closes for 90 minutes during each of the five prayer times. There is no entrance fee, but donations are accepted.

 

Is The Blue Mosque the Same as the Hagia Sophia?

 


The Blue Mosque is not the same as the Hagia Sophia. Although both are very popular and are considered national treasures, the Blue Mosque is a beautiful and unique mosque that is still being used as a mosque even today, while the Hagia Sophia, on the other hand, is a treasure from the Ottoman and Byzantine empires. It once served as a church, later on, a mosque, and finally a museum. 

What is the dress code for visiting the Blue Mosque?

Visitors must dress modestly, covering their shoulders and knees. Headscarves are provided for free at the entrance for women. All visitors are required to remove their shoes, with plastic bags provided.

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When is the Best Time to Visit The Blue Mosque?

 

If you are planning to visit The Blue Mosque, then here are some things you should know about the best time for you to visit this wonderful place. 
First of all, you should know the mosque still serves as a religious site, so unless you are visiting for a religious purpose, do not visit on religious days or on days close to any major Islamic festival. Also, the mosque is always full on Fridays, so you might as well pick another day to make your visit. 
Finally, the mosque is always closed five times a day when the worshipers say their daily prayers, so be prepared for a little delay, although it doesn’t take more than 30 minutes per time. 

 

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