Sultan Ahmed Mosque
Sultan Ahmed Mosque Exterior
Name: Sultan Ahmed Mosque (The Blue Mosque)
Artist: Designed by Mehmed Aga
Date: Constructed 1609-1616
Location: Istanbul, Turkey
Commissioned by Ottoman Sultan Ahmed I, the Sultan Ahmed Mosque, or The Blue Mosque, was constructed between 1609 and 1616 in the tradition of the great imperial mosques commissioned by Suleyman the Magnificent and that were designed by the legendary Ottoman architect Sinan. In both conversation and competition with the other great mosques of the city and Sultan Ahmed's predescessors, the mosque rises massively over the city, featuring many impressive domes and towering minarets. The mosque gained its nickname, "The Blue Mosque," for the immense amount of ornate blue and white Iznik tiles that cover the interior in beautiful floral designs. Built during a period in which the vitality of the Ottoman empire was in question, the extravagance and elegance of the mosque served as a way for the young ruler to legitmize his leadership and harken back to past eras of imperial strength and grandeur.
To view the full catalogue entry, click HERE.
To return to the group exhibit, click HERE.