Turkey - Table of Contents ...................... Architecture Around the World
Blue Mosque - Table of Contents
Prayer Hall - Sultan Ahmet Mosque / Blue Mosque
Istanbul, Turkey
![]() The many (electrified) oil lamp chandeliers inside the Blue Mosque were once covered with gold and gems. Among the glass bowls were ostrich eggs meant to avoid cobwebs inside the mosque by repelling spiders. The mihrab (detail in next photo below), pointing to Mecca, is in the center of the photograph with two people standing in front of it ... To the right of the mihrab is the minbar, or pulpit. ... Note piece of furniture at middle left (two details below:) ![]() Detail: mihrab which is made of finely carved and sculptured marble, with a stalactite niche. ![]() Two details below: ![]() Column base ... Reeding ![]() ![]() The floors are covered with carpets, which are donated by the faithful and are regularly replaced as they wear out. Photo courtesy of Nancy LaChiusa ... © 2014 Nancy LaChiusa. |
![]() Photo courtesy of Nancy LaChiusa ... © 2014 Nancy LaChiusa. The royal kiosk is situated at the south-east corner. It comprises a platform, a loggia and two small retiring rooms. It gives access to the royal loge (hünkâr mahfil) which is supported by ten marble columns. ... Note the (electrified) oil lamp chandeliers which help light the hall (detail of one chandelier below:) ![]() (Electrified) oil lamp chandelier. ... On the chandeliers were ostrich eggs meant to avoid cobwebs by repelling spiders. |
![]() Note lower left arches (detail below) and pendentive column at right (details below:) ![]() Ablaq - striped layers of stone - pointed arches ![]() One of four pendentive columns ... Capital decorated with floral motif (detail below:) ... Reeded column shaft ![]() Capital decorated with floral motif |
![]() Photo courtesy of Nancy LaChiusa ... © 2014 Nancy LaChiusa ... Four details below, looking up: ![]() Detail #1 ![]() Detail #2 ... Note brown Islamic stalactite patterns ![]() Detail #3 - geometric stained glass ![]() Detail #4 |
Miscellaneous Ornamentation![]() At Blue Mosque lower levels and at every pier, the interior of the mosque is lined with more than 20,000 handmade ceramic tiles, made at Iznik city (Nicaea) in more than fifty different tulip designs. ![]() Tulip tiles ... Three details below: ![]() Detail #1 ![]() Detail #2 ![]() Detail # ... Tiles ![]() Photo courtesy of Nancy LaChiusa ... © 2014 Nancy LaChiusa. Stained glass (detail below:) ![]() Stained glass ![]() Photo courtesy of Nancy LaChiusa ... © 2014 Nancy LaChiusa |
Semidomes![]() Upper right: central dome ... Semidomes details below: ![]() Semidome detail #1. Photo courtesy of Nancy LaChiusa ... © 2014 Nancy LaChiusa ![]() Semidome detail #2 ![]() Semidome detail #3 ![]() Semidome detail #4 ![]() Semidome detail #5 |
Central dome![]() Central dome ![]() Central dome ![]() Central dome |