Blue mosque

The Sultan AhmetMosque,also referredto as the Blue Mosque,was finishedin 1617,just before the tragic passingof its then 27-year-old patron and namesake,Sultan Ahmet I.The mosque,which is composedof six thin towering minarets and six climbingdomes,dominates Istanbul'smagnificentskyline. Although it is one of the last surviving examplesofa classicalOttoman building,the mosque's building programmeincludesnew architectural and decorative elements,and its symboliclocation at the city's imperialheart indicates a break fromthe classical style pioneeredbythe renownedmaster architect Mimar Sinan in the 16th century.

The large forecourt's façade was constructed similarly to the façade of Istanbul's Süleymaniye Mosque, with the exception of the installation of turrets on the corner domes. A continuous arched arcade encircles the court, which is about the size of the mosque itself. In comparison to the courtyard's size, the central hexagonal fountain is very diminutive. Architecturally, the courtyard's imposing yet small entrance stands out from its arcade. With a little ribbed dome perched on a tall tholobate, it has a semi-dome with a superb stalactite structure.On the mosque's western side, a large iron chain is suspended above the court entrance. On horseback, only the sultan was permitted to enter the Blue Mosque's court. The chain was placed there so the sultan would have to lower his head each time he entered the court to avoid being struck.It was done as a symbolic act to demonstrate the ruler's deference to the divine.

The prayer hall itself is punctuated with several architectural features including the sultan’s platform and an arcaded gallery running along the interior walls except on the qibla wall facing Mecca. A carved marble niche set into the center of this wall guides the faithful to the correct direction for prayer. Upper sections of the mosque are painted ingeometric bands and organic medallions of bright reds and blues

The decorations include verses from the Qur'an, many of them made by Seyyid Kasim Gubari, regarded as the greatest calligrapher of his time. The floors are covered with carpets, which are donated by the faithful and are regularly replaced as they wear out. The many spacious windows confer a spacious impression. The most important element in the interior of the mosque is the mihrab, which is made of finely carved and sculptured marble, with a stalactite niche and a double inscriptive panel above it. It is surrounded by many windows. The mosque has been designed so that even when it is at its most crowded, everyone in the mosque can see and hear the imam which is very important.