Wasn’t Zeynep Sultan a princess? The Zeynep Sultan Mosque stands before you a testament to her life. Built in 1769 this mosque holds a fascinating history. It was commissioned by Sultan Ahmed III’s daughter Zeynep Sultan. The architect Mehmet Tahir Aga designed it. He was also responsible for the Ayazma Mosque. Notice the style? The Zeynep Sultan Mosque beautifully evokes Byzantine churches. The same architectural style and materials were used.
The mosque sits on Alemdar Caddesi. It’s across from Gulkane Park near the Hagia Sophia. You can even see it from the Istanbul tram. Behind the mosque is a building. It was once a mektep now it’s a primary school. The sebil a part of the mosque complex is now closed. In front sits a fountain. It originally belonged to Abdul-Hamid I’s kulliye. It was moved here in the 1920s. This was during the construction of the 4th Vakif Han in Eminonu. Above the Zeynep Sultan Mosque is the Foundation for Research on the Ottoman Empire.
The mosque’s hazire the cemetery holds important graves. Alemdar Mustafa Pasha an Ottoman military hero is buried here. Zeynep Sultan’s remains are currently in a cellar. They await a new tomb due to road construction. Her second husband Melek Mehmet Pasha Selim III’s Grand Vizier is also buried here. Zeynep Sultan had a son Mahmud Dramali Pasha from her first marriage. The hazire also contains 113 other graves. These include those of palace officials and Zeynep Sultan’s relatives.
The Zeynep Sultan Mosque itself is a single-domed building. It’s square in plan and dates back to the Baroque period. The alternating masonry with stone and brick is interesting. Four walls support the main dome. The dome’s drum has sixteen round arched windows. Lower floor windows are rectangular. Upper floor windows have pointed arches with a circular window above them. The interior boasts hand-drawn decorations. The mihrab is red marble. The minbar is wood with Baroque ornaments. The western corner holds a single-balconied minaret. It’s made from cut stone and brick. An adjacent classroom was renovated in the 1980s. The current fountain in front replaces one from 1871.
The Zeynep Sultan Mosque has faced many changes. In 1871 tram works damaged it. Repairs followed in 1917 1958 1983 and 1988. In 1950 Zeynep Sultan’s body was moved. Restoration in 2014 temporarily closed the mosque. This beautiful building stands as a witness to Istanbul’s rich history and the life of a remarkable princess. The Zeynep Sultan Mosque continues to serve as a house of worship a place of history and a poignant reminder of the past.