Blue Mosque

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

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.