Blue Mosque, Istanbul

historic mosque located in Istanbul, Turkey, also known as Blue Mosque

The Sultan Ahmed Mosque, commonly called the Blue Mosque, is a mosque in Istanbul, Turkey.[1] It was built between 1609 and 1616, when Ahmed I ruled the Ottoman Empire.[2] Like with many other mosques, the founder of the mosque is buried in it. His architect, Sedefkar Mehmet Agha, decorated it like a jeweler would.[1] There is also a madrasah and a hospice associated with the mosque. Today it is one of the greatest tourist attractions in Istanbul.

The Sultan Ahmed Mosque, also known and referred to as the Blue Mosque, from the window of the upper gallery of the Hagia Sophia, in Istanbul
Sultan Ahmed Mosque

According to legend, Sultan Ahmed I wanted gold minarets on his mosque.[3] The word for gold in Turkish is altın. Apparently this was misunderstood as altı, or six.[3] So the mosque has six minarets.

References

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  1. 1.0 1.1 "SULTAN AHMET MOSQUE (THE BLUE MOSQUE)". istanbul.gov.tr. Archived from the original on 26 September 2015. Retrieved 27 July 2015.
  2. "Blue Mosque, Istanbul". Sacred Destinations. Retrieved 27 July 2015.
  3. 3.0 3.1 "Blue Mosque (Sultan Ahmet Camii)". Frommers/FrommerMedia LLC. Retrieved 27 July 2015.