Envision Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent. He wanted to build a mosque that surpassed all others. We are standing before the magnificent Süleymaniye Mosque. It stands as a testament to the power and grandeur of the Ottoman Empire.
Süleyman commissioned the mosque. He wanted to honor his son Şehzade Mehmed. He was impressed by Sinan’s design for the Şehzade Mosque. So he asked Sinan to design his own mosque.
Construction began in 1550. It officially concluded in 1557. However, work continued for a few years after. Suleiman wanted his mosque to be the greatest. He saw himself as a second Solomon. His projects reflected this ambition.
The Süleymaniye Mosque is on the Third Hill of Istanbul. It offers stunning views of the Golden Horn. Mimar Sinan designed it. Many consider it his masterpiece. It is the largest Ottoman-era mosque in Istanbul.
The mosque is part of a külliye. This is a religious and charitable complex. It includes madrasas, a public kitchen, and a hospital. Behind the qibla wall is a cemetery. Here lie Suleiman and his wife, Hurrem Sultan.
Sinan drew inspiration from the Hagia Sophia. He also looked at the Bayezid II Mosque. Suleiman aimed to surpass his predecessors. Upon completing the Hagia Sophia, Justinian I boasted. He said, “Solomon, I have surpassed thee.” Suleiman’s mosque references the Hagia Sophia. Its layout echoes the ancient structure.
Marble came from various sites. These included Constantinople and other parts of the empire. It was gathered for the mosque’s construction.
The Süleymaniye Mosque suffered damage. A great fire struck in 1660. Sultan Mehmed IV restored it. An earthquake in 1766 caused further damage. Repairs altered Sinan’s original decoration. Recent cleaning revealed his experiments with blue. Red became the dominant color of the dome later.
During World War I, the courtyard served as a weapons depot. Ammunition ignited causing another fire. Full restoration did not occur until 1956. The mosque underwent further restoration from 2007 to 2010. Restoration of the surrounding complex continued.
The mosque’s entrance features a forecourt. A central fountain stands there. The main gate projects outward. It rises above the walls. The gate has a recess. It is covered by a triangular vault.
The courtyard is grand. It measures about 47 by 57 meters. Columns of marble, granite, and porphyry support a colonnaded peristyle. The columns feature Ottoman capitals. The portico is higher on the southeast side. This gives the facade monumentality.
The prayer hall is almost square. It measures 58.5 by 57.5 meters. A central dome dominates the space. It reaches 53 meters high. Its diameter is 26.5 meters. The layout imitates the Hagia Sophia.
Sinan refined the design. He repeated innovations from the Şehzade Mosque. A limited number of pillars support the dome. This allows for more windows. He hid the buttresses within the walls.
The interior decoration is restrained. Documents state that they avoided ostentatious ornamentation. This was to honor the traditions of Muhammad. Calligraphy is the primary decoration. Hasan Çelebi created it.
Most of the original painted decoration is gone. The present-day painting dates from the 19th century. The Fossati brothers imitated Ottoman Baroque decoration. Traces of original decoration suggest blue colors. Sinan later replaced them with red.
The Süleymaniye Mosque includes mausoleums. Suleiman and his wife are buried here. Suleiman’s mausoleum dates to 1566. Its design resembles the Dome of the Rock. Hurrem Sultan’s mausoleum dates to 1558. It is decorated with Iznik tiles.
The Süleymaniye Mosque is a superb example of Ottoman architecture. It showcases grace and sophistication. The mosque remains one of the world’s great buildings.