What is the Blue Mosque known for?

The Blue Mosque — with its five main domes, six minarets, and eight secondary domes — is considered the classical period’s last great mosque. The architect, Sedefkâr Mehmed Ağa, combined Byzantine Christian and traditional Islamic architectural elements for a work of overwhelming size and splendor.

Why is the Blue Mosque an icon?

Blue Mosque gets its name Blue due to the more than 21,000 pieces of blue izmit tiles decorating and adorning the pillars and ceiling of the Mosque which makes it much more beutiful inside than the Sulaimaneye Mosque.

Why was the Blue Mosque made?

The Blue Mosque was built to reflect this worldwide majestic power of the Ottoman dynasty complementing the fame of Hagia Sophia. The construction started in 1609 and lasted till 1616 when the Blue Mosque in Istanbul was built in full form.

Who built the Blue Mosque in Istanbul?

Sedefkar Mehmed Agha
The Blue Mosque/Architects

Mehmed Ağa, Ağa also spelled Āghā, (flourished 16th century and early 17th century, Turkey), an architect whose masterpiece is the Sultan Ahmed Cami (Blue Mosque) in Istanbul.

What is the most famous mosque in Istanbul?

While still used as a mosque, Sultanahmet is one of the most popular, and important, tourist attractions in Istanbul. Sultanahmet is considered to be the last great mosque of the Ottoman classical period, as it is the culmination of two centuries of both Ottoman mosque and Byzantine church development.

What are facts about the Blue Mosque?

10 Interesting facts to know about the Blue Mosque, Istanbul History. The Blue Mosque was commissioned to be built by Sultan Ahmed I (hence the name of the mosque after him) during the year 1609 and was completed in Location. This massive mosque was built on the site of a former Byzantine Palace and a hippodrome and now it stands on top of a hill overlooking the Bosphorus Architecture. Interior. Myths.

Why is it called the Blue Mosque?

Called the Blue Mosque by foreign visitors because of its interior tiles, it disappoints if you’re looking for lots of blue because the blue tiles are mostly in the inaccessible upper galleries. Otherwise, the mosque is a fine example of Istanbul’s wonderful imperial Ottoman mosques.

What is the reason the Blue Mosque was built?

The Blue Mosque was built in the 17th century in order to please God and suppress the mesmerizing beauty of Hagia Sophia. Hagia Sophia was built in the 6th century upon the Byzantine emperor Justinian I’s request and it was originally a Christian church.