The Sultan Ahmed Mosque defines the skyline of Istanbul with its cascading domes and six towering minarets. Tourists flock to this architectural marvel to see the sea of blue tiles that adorn its interior walls. While it stands as a symbol of religious devotion, its construction originally sparked anger among the public and the clergy. Sultan Ahmed I built this masterpiece to rival the Hagia Sophia standing directly across the square. Step onto the plush red carpets to uncover the history of this Ottoman jewel.
Blue Mosque
Although Western travelers coined the nickname “Blue Mosque” because of the interior tiles, locals strictly call it the Sultan Ahmed Mosque. In fact, the blue paint is not the original decoration on the upper levels.
Initially, the mosque sparked a massive scandal because it featured six minarets. At the time, only the Grand Mosque in Mecca had six towers. To resolve the anger, the Sultan consequently paid to build a seventh minaret in Mecca to keep it superior.
Unlike previous rulers, Sultan Ahmed I built the mosque using funds from the treasury rather than spoils of war. Consequently, this decision angered the public because previous sultans only built grand monuments after winning battles and expanding the empire.
Inside, artisans decorated the walls with over 20,000 handmade Iznik ceramic tiles. Specifically, these tiles feature traditional Ottoman patterns of lilies, carnations, and tulips, creating the famous blue hue.
Cleverly, architects placed ostrich eggs on the chandeliers to repel spiders and cobwebs. They believed that a specific scent from the drying eggs effectively kept the arachnids away from the lamps.
Additionally, a heavy iron chain hangs across the court entrance on the western side. Therefore, the Sultan had to lower his head to enter on horseback, symbolizing his humility before God.
Interestingly, the tile designs feature fifty different variations of tulip patterns. In Turkish culture, this flower holds deep symbolic meaning, representing both beauty and the divine.
Originally, 260 stained glass windows illuminated the vast prayer hall. While Venetian glassmakers provided the original intricate panes as a gift to the Sultan, modern glass has unfortunately replaced them.
Ambitiously, Sedefkâr Mehmed Agha designed the structure. As a student of the legendary architect Mimar Sinan, he aimed to surpass his master by focusing on overwhelming size and splendor.
Beyond being a place of worship, the site originally included a vast social complex. Historically, this included a hospital, a primary school, a market, and a soup kitchen.
Despite the heavy tourist traffic, it remains an active mosque. Therefore, guards close the visitor section five times a day to allow the faithful to pray in peace without camera flashes.
Deliberately, workers dug the foundation on the site of the ancient Byzantine Great Palace. In doing so, this location physically placed the Ottoman structure on top of the previous empire’s history, asserting dominance over the past.
Remarkably, the central dome amplifies the Imam’s voice without the need for modern microphones. Because the architect calculated the geometry perfectly, the sound carries to every corner of the vast hall.
Currently, worshippers pray on plush red carpets that cover the entire floor. Moreover, faithful individuals donate these carpets, and staff replace them regularly as they wear out from the millions of feet that walk on them.
Significantly, Pope Benedict XVI visited the Blue Mosque in 2006. During this visit, he paused for a moment of meditation alongside the Grand Mufti, marking a historic moment of interfaith dialogue in Turkey.
