User:Atorafdar/Nuruosmaniye Mosque

Architecture

The Nuruosmaniye Mosque helped reshape city of Istanbul by moving it away from Ottoman Classical architecture and using a newer architecture style. It was one the first monuments to use this style that was heavily influenced by European models. This style was the Ottoman Baroque style.

It was commissioned by Sultan Mahmud I in 1748 and completed under his brother and successor Sultan Osman III in 1755. It was named Nuruosmaniye Mosque, meaning "The light of Osman", after Osman III, but also because of the 174 windows which illuminate the mosque's hall.^{[citation needed]}

The mosque contains a library, madrasa, and a tomb, which are enclosed in a prescient with an irregular shape, therefore the sites slope downward in the north area. In the back-garden there is a Türbe (tomb) built for Shehsuvar Sultan, mother of Osman III, which also houses other royal family members. The other components of the complex are:

• The mosque has two gates, the east and west gate. The western gate also contains the fountain (sebil). Both gates open onto the Grand Bazaar, which allows a flow of traffic.
• The sebil is attached to the exterior wall of the compound, and was traditionally used for dispersing water to the public and for ablutions before prayer. It is currently used as a carpet store.
• The madrasa, (Islamic school) consisting of 20 domed rooms and one large classroom (dershane).
• The imaret, or public soup kitchen, which adjoins the madrasa.
• The library is a separate single story building in the Külliye, with a private entrance for the Sultan. The books and manuscripts, some of which are still held on site, are part of the larger Süleymaniye library. The works originally held there were personal collections of Mahmud I and Osman III with a total of 7,600 volumes of which 5052 are manuscripts.
  • It is because of mosques like this, colleges, convents, and other instutitons that the Süleymaniye library was able to build their colllection
• The Hünkâr Kasrı, a lodge for the sultan and royal family, is a three-story building with private access. In the case of the Nuruosmaniye mosque, the lodge has access to the Hünkâr Mahfili within the prayer hall.
• Lights: The windows lining the walls of the mosque allows natural light to travel through. The circular courtyard is another path the natural light flows through in. Additionally the circular Ottoman style lamps allows light at night.
• Ornaments: The muquarnas along the arches of the mosque are Baroque and major form of decoration. The mosque is lined with golden quranic calligraphy and has medallion with name of Allah and Prophet Muhammad on the pendentives of the structure. The two skinny minarets decorating the outside of the mosque are an example of Ottoman structure along with the main half dome and the mini half domes of the courtyard walls.

Location

The mosque stands on the second hill of Istanbul. Since the mosque is elevated above the surrounding area, the entrance is up the stairs and to the gate. The location of the complex is one surrounded by many shops, businesses, and the Grand Bazaar. Being such a prosperous and commercially active area, the Sultan knew it would be a convenient location for Muslims to attend prayer. It would also serve as a reminder to the people of the presence of the state and the Sultan during a time of political and economic misfortune. Ahmed Resmî Efendi tells a story of the Sultan being greeted by a spiritual old man, prior to the building of the complex, who cried, prayed for his health, and praised him for deciding to build a mosque on that specific piece of ground. It was after this incident that the Sultan purportedly decided to begin construction. The complex is also located just across the street from the Gate 1 entrance to the Grand Bazaar. The Column of Constantine, the historic Gazi Atik Ali Pasha Mosque, and the modern day Çemberlitaş rail station are all located directly south of the mosque within 400 meters.

Külliye

The Nuruosmaniye Mosque is located near a heavily trafficked area; the Suleymaniye Külliye Complex which is a Medical, Scientific, and Cultural Center. It was built by Sinan and is defined as his Masterpiece. Besides the mosque being located there, it is surrounded by a hospital, school of medicine, central pharmacy, two schools for higher education, theological school, a caravanserai, public bath, and two mausoleums. It was accepted as a World Heritage Site because of the significance it has.

7 Hills

The Mosque resides on one of the Seven Hills of Istanbul. The areas that are located on these halls are:

1. Sarayburnu
   1. Which extends from the Tokapi Palace to Sultanahmet Square
   2. Includes the Hagia Sophia
2. Cemberlitas Hill
   1. The Nuruosmaniye Mosque is located in this area
   2. Constantine Column
3. Beyazit Hill
   1. Suleymaniye Kulliyesi
4. The Conqueror's Hill
   1. Fatih Mosque
5. The Fifth Hill
   1. Yavuz Seim
6. Edirnekapi: Sun and Moon
   1. Mihrimah Sultan Mosque
7. Sumbul Efendi
   1. The Old Slave Market