Didn’t Sultan Mehmed III’s mother pick a peculiar spot for the New Mosque? This wasn’t just any location. It was a place where a Jewish community, the Karaites, resided.
Hello everyone. Welcome to a tale woven with political intrigue and architectural grandeur. We are standing before the New Mosque. Despite its name, the New Mosque dates back to 1663.
Safiye Sultan, mother of Mehmed III, initiated this ambitious project in 1597. It was originally named Valide Sultan Camii or Queen Mother Mosque. She aimed to amplify Islamic influence in the city. This was fueled by the discontent of merchants wary of the Jewish community’s growing influence.
However, this decision sparked controversy. The Janissaries, powerful soldiers, saw it as needless spending. Political turmoil and funding problems halted construction. Safiye faced banishment after Mehmed III died in 1603. Ahmed I, the new Sultan, lost interest. The project stalled. The Karaites even returned. They camped on the construction site.
Years passed and a devastating fire in 1660 damaged the incomplete structure. Then, Turhan Sultan, mother of Mehmed IV, stepped in. She revived the project as an act of devotion. Turhan also commissioned the nearby Spice Bazaar. It would be part of the New Mosque’s complex. Construction resumed in 1660. The New Mosque finally opened in 1665. It became known as the New Valide Sultan Mosque. Eventually, it was shortened to New Mosque.
Look closely. The exterior features 66 domes and semi-domes. They create a pyramid-like effect. Two minarets grace the skyline. The main dome reaches 36 meters high. It rests on four semi-domes. The design echoes Mimar Sinan’s earlier work.
Notice the courtyard. It spans 39 meters. A colonnaded peristyle with 24 small domes surrounds it. An ablution fountain stands in the center. But it is purely ornamental. Ritual washing happens at water taps on the mosque’s south wall. Admire the facade’s Iznik tiles. Stone from Rhodes was used in construction.
Inside, the New Mosque is a 41-meter square. Four large piers support the central dome. Slim marble columns and arches line the sides. The dome stretches 17.5 meters in diameter and soars 36 meters high. Calligraphic plates bear the names of the first four caliphs. Blue, green, and white Iznik tiles adorn the interior. The mihrab features gilded stalactites. The minbar boasts a conical canopy with marble columns.
Ahmed III added a library in 1724-25. It stands near the tomb. A fountain, built in 1816, also graces the complex. Seventeen tombs reside here. They include the resting places of sultans and their families.
As we conclude our visit, remember the New Mosque. It embodies resilience, royal ambition, and architectural brilliance. It began with Safiye Sultan’s vision. It was completed by Turhan Hatice. This Istanbul landmark stands as a testament to Ottoman history.