Sultan Ahmed's Mosque

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“The Blue Mosque” is one of the buildings Ahmed I built on Sultanahmet square in Istanbul, Turkey , it was completed after the sultan passed away in 1617 and the mosque got named after him, “The Sultanahmet Mosque”. Above its surrounding area the courtyard into the mosque is entered through three large portals with a few steps. The mosque has three gates one lead into the madrasa-mausoleum complex and the remaining two side gates which had pavilions above them lead to the first ottoman university which was built by architect fossati in 1954. Inside the mosque under a magnificent dome there is a large prayer hall is found, also in the mosque you’ll see an open courtyard and a terrace. On the outside the courtyard has two rows of rectangular immense windows topped with marble balustrade. A two-story gallery circles around the courty ard. The prayer halls are entered from the main entrance however there are two additional entrances, but the main entrance has a dramatic portico marble dome, the hall is slightly wider than it is long. The central dome is guarded by four semi-domes. The setting ends where several domes complete the pyramidal succession. In front of the southern pier exaggerated geometric patterns are carved in its marble balustrade. “the royal lodge” is a large platform elevated on arches of precious marble columns, this is located behind the pier which is on te bay underneath the eastern corner dome. This is entered from inside the mosque as well as the royal kiosk which is located outdoors. At the balcony level an arcade with balustrades circles the interior walls except the “gibla wall”. This wall is unique because it has a special function, it is the direction Makkah is therefore it is the direction Muslims face during their

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