How does a mosque connect Ankara to Istanbul and a long line of Ottoman Sultans? That is the tale of the Yavuzlar Cami.
Welcome to the story of the Yavuzlar Cami. It is a serene place of worship in Ankara. This story connects us to powerful figures and historical events of the Ottoman Empire.
The Yavuzlar Cami reminds us of Istanbul’s Yavuz Selim Camii. The Istanbul mosque was commissioned by Suleiman the Magnificent. He honored his father Selim I. Selim I was also known as Yavuz Sultan Selim.
The construction of the Yavuz Selim Camii in Istanbul began in 1522. The architect is debated. Some believe Mimar Ali designed it. This is because Mimar Sinan was not yet recognized by the palace in 1522.
Yavuz Sultan Selim himself ordered the initial construction. Suleiman I added a mausoleum a soup kitchen and a madrasah later. The Yavuz Selim Cami complex had multiple purposes.
The Istanbul Yavuz Selim Cami has unique features. One side has a cistern. Another side has a cliff called Kırkmerdiven meaning forty stairs. Three gates lead to the courtyard: the Türbe gate the Çarşı gate and the Kırkmerdiven gate. The spacious garden has trees and a fountain.
The last congregation area is covered with 22 domes supported by 18 columns. A fountain for ablutions made by Murad IV stands in the courtyard. The exterior and interior of the last congregation area have valuable tiles. The main dome descends from four walls. Two minarets each have one balcony.
Inside the Istanbul Yavuz Selim Cami a sultan’s lodge stands on eight marble columns to the left of the mihrab. A muezzin’s lodge is on the right. Another muezzin’s lodge is above the qibla gate. All elements including the marble minbar feature carving inlay tile work illumination calligraphy and ornamentation.
The artistry is excellent on windows and doors. The beauty of the tiles around the mihrab is unique to this mosque. Two guesthouses with nine domes each are on either side of the mosque. A madrasah faces it.
Next to the Istanbul Yavuz Selim Cami is Yavuz Sultan Selim’s tomb. The hexagonal tomb has two rows of windows four colored columns and five arches. Colorful tiles dazzle upon entry. Mother-of-pearl inlaid ebony adorns the doors. The inscription reads All souls shall taste death.
Yavuz Selim’s sarcophagus sits in the center. A selimi turban rests on it. His birth and death dates are in gold thread. Abdulhak Hamid’s poem hangs on one door. Ebony and ivory inlays decorate the window panels. Acem Ali designed the tomb. Other tombs house Sultan Yavuz Selim his daughter Hatice Sultan his wife Ayşe Hafsa Sultan princes Murad Mahmud Abdullah and Sultan Abdülmecid.
Inside Yavuz’s sarcophagus lies a caftan once belonging to Ibn Kemal. The scholar had splashed mud on Yavuz’s caftan during a horse ride. The Yavuzlar Cami here in Ankara echos the architectural and spiritual legacy. It is a reminder of faith art and history.
The Yavuzlar Cami connects us to Istanbul its history and the Ottoman Sultans. Take a moment to appreciate this link to the past. Consider the craftsmanship the history and the enduring legacy of faith.