The Süleymaniye Mosque Istanbul is one of the largest and most famous mosques in Turkey. The mosque is in the Süleymaniye neighbourhood of European Istanbul, and it carries the name of Sultan Suleiman the First (the Magnificent), who ordered its construction. It is adjacent to the Bosphorus. Suleymaniye Mosque in Istanbul is also a popular tourist destination, with millions of visitors flocking to witness its architecture, sections, and outstanding architectural beauty each year.
Süleymaniye Mosque Structure
The reason for the four minarets in the Süleymaniye Mosque is that Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent is the fourth among the Ottoman Empire’s sultans following the conquest of Istanbul, and the minarets have 10 sultans, indicating Sultan Suleiman the tenth among the Ottoman Empire’s sultans. Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent desired to build a magnificent mosque, so he handed the task to Sinan Pasha, the most famous architect of Islamic architecture. The mosque and the complex that surrounds it began building in 1550 AD and was completed in 1557 AD.
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After Sinan prepared maps, plans, ideas, and models and placed them in the Sultan’s hands, he appreciated them, gave his permission, and unlocked the door to his locker to put them into action without spending any money. The mosque covers thirty-seven dunams in total, including the college. Architect Sinan stated:
“This mosque is my greatest achievement”
Süleymaniye Mosque Istanbul Architecture
The Süleymaniye Mosque Istanbul in Istanbul was built using the architectural complex system, and it is purely a large building surrounded by a group of accessories and facilities, including schools and a library (the Süleymaniye Library), a hammam and a charitable restaurant to distribute food to the poor, a caravan box (Karavan Saray), a hospital, and shops. The mosque’s length is around 69 metres, while its breadth is approximately 63 metres.
The mosque was constructed using the middle dome system. The main dome stands fifty-three metres tall and has a diameter of twenty-seven metres. This dome is supported by four massive columns known as “elephant feet” due to their thickness and bulk, which are centred near the walls and have a diameter of 7.5 metres and a weight of sixty tonnes apiece.
The mosque is located among large areas of green meadows, which give the place beauty and completeness with the mosque’s minarets and domes in a beautiful painting that is in harmony with the blue sky, and the mosque is located among large areas of green meadows, which give the place beauty and completeness with the mosque’s minarets and domes in a beautiful painting that is in harmony with the blue sky. The Süleymaniye Mosque is distinguished by its simplicity, as opposed to the extravagant decorations and inscriptions found in many Ottoman mosques.