THE MOSQUE OF SULTAN AHMET (THE BLUE MOSQUE)
Blue Mosque at the sunset.
The cupolas, semi-domes and arches that reflect the exterior form of the mosque to the interior are decorated with paint. The mural inscriptions, every line in itself a product of great artistic effort, are verses from the Koran. Sun rays stealing in through the windows at different angles at different times of the day add colour to this beautiful monument.
As seen from the land side, the Mosque of Sultan Ahmet with its system of cupolas and semidomes has the appearance of a pyramid rising over a base of horse chestnut and plane trees. The fact that the number of minarets was equal to that of the mosque at the Holy Kaaba at that time caused some criticism from Moslem clergy, and Sultan Ahmet solved the problem by helping raise a seventh minaret for the mosque at Mecca.
The balconies won the minarets are reached by a spiral staircase. In older days, muezzins used to climb these balconies five times a day to call the believers to the mosque for prayers at the proper times. Nowadays, public address systems are being used for this purpose.
From the Asian coast at the entrance of the Bosphorus, the skyline of Istanbul at summer sunset hasafairy tale quality, offering the viewer a unique and memorable experience. |
