Mosque of Selim II
Edrine, Turkey. Sinan (architect), 1568-1575 C.E. Brick and stone
Edrine, Turkey. Sinan (architect), 1568-1575 C.E. Brick and stone
It is one of the most important buildings in the history of world architecture both for its design and its monumentality. It is considered to be the masterwork of the great Ottoman architect Sinan.
Selimiye Mosque
Mosque of Selim II
Location:
Edirne, Turkey
Date:
Hegira 982/AD 1574
Architect:
Koca Mimar Sinan Aga
David Aga
Period:
Classical Ottoman
Patron:
Sultan Selim II (AH 974-82/AD 1568-75)
Content: The mosque, with two madrasas on its southeast and southwest, is located within a courtyard (190 m x 130 m) Mosque: measures 190 x 130 meters two symmetrical square madrasas (served as a college for studying traditions of Muhammad) Square prayer hall: approached through porticoed courtyard Approach to north facade of mosque is overwhelming— aligned gates of outer precinct wall, focus eye towards dome which can be seen from a distance The ethereal dome: weightless and floating in prayer hall, architectural features are inferior to the grand dome The grand dome rests on eight muqarnas-corbelled squinches supported by eight large piers Muquarnas are faceted decorative forms, protrude and recess- they bridge a point of transition They allow the round base of the dome to join the octagon formed by the piers. Buttresses support the east and west piers— hold up the weight of the massive dome Buttresses are artfully hidden among exterior porticos and galleries (those that fill the spaces in between walls and piers) The Qibla: wall that faces Mecca, projects outward emphasizing openness of interior space Muzzin’s platform (leader of prayers to chant congregation): placement under the center of the dome is not traditional— reflects Sinan’s interest in surpassing Christian architecture— position of platform also creates a vertical alignment of octagon, square, circle Interior decoration: repainted, polychrome, Iznik tiles, Ottoman decoration, motifs iconography saz leaves and Chinese clouds Muquarnas: ornamented vaulting, geometric subdivision of a squinch. Squinches: Construction filling in upper angles of a square room, to form a base to receive an octagonal or spherical dome. Pier: upright support for a structure or superstructure such as an arch, sections of structural walls between openings can function as piers. Additions: Shops (arasta) and recitation school to the west of courtyard— added by David Aga Summarized Information:
Context: Completed in Edirne, rather than capital Istanbul Edirne was where Selim was stationed as a prince when his father campaigned in Persia in 1548 Edirne located in the Balkans, had historical and geographical significant for its history as a capital of the Ottoman Empire before Istanbul and was the second city of the Empire Edirne was first major city that traveling Europeans would pass in the Ottoman Empire. Selim built this mosque there to exemplify Ottoman Empire’s greatness. Mosque also was able to dominate the domestic landscape of Edirne, making it the defining place of the city. Son of Suleyman the Magnificent Form: Stone, brick, marble Function: An example of Ottoman Empire’s wealth and greatness, along with its power and vastness (along a popular tourist passing through place, showed tourists of its dominance) Mosque— displays differences between Islam and Christianity The mosque represents Islam's triumph. It also was an attempt to surpass the Hagia Sophia and the Byzantine Basilica in Istanbul. https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/ap-art-history/early-europe-and-colonial-americas/ap-art-islamic-world-medieval/a/mosque-edirne http://www.discoverislamicart.org/database_item.php?id=monument;isl;tr;mon01;23;en Cross Cultural Comparisons: Pantheon Dome of the Rock Hagia Sophia |
