Süleymaniye cami : An Idiom tothe Ottomanempire

from SULEYMANIYE MOSQUE

by Sruthi Kuls

Istanbul , Turkey

Sruthi K

VSPARC,VIT

History ofArchitecture

Shefali Nayak

October 27 ,2018

An outline ofByzantium

Byzantine architecture, as the name suggests , was the style ofconstructing

buildings in Constantinople . Present day Istanbul , which was formerly the ancient

kingdom ofByzantium , had architects with an obscure way ofconstructing their imper

ial as well as important residential buildings. Their heavily drawn inspiration from roman

buildings led to the construction ofchurches that had a combination ofbasilica as well

as a symmetrical central plan church aka the characteristic Byzantine greek cross plan

church . Churches are an important part ofByzantine period and architecture since af

ter the fall ofRome , this kingdom became the one most dominant power focused on

spreading the orthodox religion . One oftheir important features was the domed roof .

One reason for this might be that this is the lineage ofthe Roman architecture. Most of

the Byzantine structures have rising spaces and magnificent decorations . This catego

ry ofarchitecture is where the technique ofraising domes on piers was essentially in

vented . It allowed lighting and communication from all the four directions. Since the

dome was hemispherical and the base was cubic, the transition between these was

achieved using pendentives .1 These kind ofdomes were mostly used in the Renais

sance and the Baroque periods.

To simply put , a mosaic is an interior decoration or artwork that is made by

putting together small broken pieces ofglass, pebbles or stone to depict an imagery .

These artworks were an important part ofancient imperial buildings usually used as a

means to tell the history ofthe place and their religious beliefs . Mosaics were popularly

known for depicting mythological scenes ofolden times , such as , the victorious sto

1Kathleen kuiper , “byzantine architecture,” January 30 2009 , encyclopaedia Britannica , accessed September 27 2018 , https://www.britannica.com/art/Byzantine-architecture

agriculture , fishing, also arts and crafts . 2 This research paper talks the influence of

Byzantine architecture on the Süleymaniye mosque located on the third hill ofIstanbul ,

Turkey.

AHistoric blurb

It is said to be the biggest mosque ofIstanbul at present . It was built by Mimar

Sinan under the orders ofSuleyman the magnificent over a span of7 years around

1550 - 1557 AD . This mosque is less ornamental compared to the other mosques ofits

time but still stands out for its simple decorations that provides the mosque a subtle

essence ofIslamic architecture . Just like any other mosque , this complex also served

various other purpose such as hospital , Hamam , madrasa , library , hospice for the

Fig 1.1., Sülemaniye mosque’s skyline view

2carinemahy, .”Mosaic " Ancient History Encyclopedia. Last modifiedApril 28, 2011. https:// www.ancient.eu/Mosaic/.

poor and other shops . This mosque is said to be the best example ofOttoman

islamic architecture . 3

The Süleymaniye mosque and its dependencies were built around the mosque perime

ters with other serviceable units which served the social , religious and financial pur

poses in a tightly wrapped plan around the mosque . This was achieved by placing Za

wiya mosques that were accompanied by Madrasas , Mausolea's and Caravanerais .

Early Ottoman mosques had the hostels for the Sufi sheikhs around them in a loosely

arranged manner demonstrating the importance ofthese coloniser sheikhs around that

time .

fig 1.2., the interior central dome and the tympanums

The information about the historical and cultural importance ofthe complex is

explained and documented in detailed inventories , books and other lists that explain

the buildings in the complex in proper architectural vocabulary and their functions .

3 Burak sansal .“süleymaniye mosque “ . All about Istanbul . Accessed on October 26 , 2018 http://www.greatistanbul.com/suleymaniye_mosque.html

ten by sinan’s poet painter friend Mustafa sai Çelebi . These sources portray the

mosque in its symbolic meaning . The dependencies around the mosque are consid

ered significant for the purposes they serve . The culturally important architectonic ele

ments ofthe complex are considered to be the Minbar [ a pulpit in the mosque where

the Imam delivers the sermons ] , the Mihrab [ I semicircular niche on the wall that in

dicates the Qibla , the direction ofthe Mecca ] , the pulpits, the royal box , the elaborate

stained glass windows , the artistic inscriptions , porphyry discs , the columns ofrare

marble , the colossal piers and to end with the magnificent central domes and its sub

sidiaries. The exterior architectural elements considered important would be the four

minarets each ofdifferent sizes , the arcaded marble courtyard , Mausolea and its outer

precinct .

When the walls speak

Fig 2.1., the minbars and the mihrabs

books and poems written about the life ofsinan or a document about the mosque .

From small motifs to the lamps to the windows everything is annotated in the former .

Whereas the mausolea ofSüleyman and his wife resemble the panels donated

by him to the dome ofthe rocks , site ofthe Solomon's temple , which was ornamented

with glazed panels with blossoming tree and flower motifs . Its double dome inside is

supported by a circular colonnade supported by its octagonal ambulatory.4

In certain books ofthat period it is also mentioned that large complexes such as

this mosque were merely considered as symbols ofpolitical significance rather than its

social purpose considering the fact that there were enough numbers ofroyal Friday

mosques in the city . In the book ofetiquette written by MustafaAli on murad III around

995 , this was clearly recognised in the verses

"To build masjids and mosques in the well developed and prosperous seat

ofgovernment and likewise to construct convents and madrasas in a fa

mous capital are not pious deeds performed to acquire merit in gods sight

.every wise and intelligent man knows that these are pious deeds per

formed in order to accomplish being a leader and to make a good reputa

tion . There are thousands oftowns whose inhabitants are in need of

masjids and convents ……..yet those who wish to perform pious deeds

4Necipoglu, Gulru. The Suleymaniye Complex in Istanbul: An Interpretation. In Muqarnas III: An Annual on IslamicArt andArchitecture, edited by Oleg Grabar. Leiden: E.J. Brill, 1985.

are seats ofthe throne ."5

About the outer nuances , there are three entrances to the mosques inside which

the floor is covered with carpet with the interiors dimly lit with chandeliers giving an es

sence ofthe time when there were only candles . There are four minarets , the front two

being ofheight about 74 metres and the other two about 56 metres . The taller ones

have three balconies unlike the shorter ones which have one less , which is said to be

symbolising Suleyman as the tenth sultan since the beginning ofthe ottoman empire

and the fourth sultan after the conquest ofConstantinople . Each ofthe balconies have

separate stairways . The mosque's inner courtyard had a fountain ofablutions which

dry today and the outer porticos are supported using columns topped with domes to

protect people from sun and rain according to seasons .

About the massive central dome, it has a diameter ofabout 27 metres and a

height ofabout 53 metres containing massive arched and about four columns support

ing the main dome which is intricately designed with floral patterns and calligraphy from

the Quran . The acoustic quality ofthe dome is said to be incredibly sharp . The archi

tect , Sinan , built the central dome in such a manner that the sermons were made au

dible to everyone . The southeast side ofthe complex has an old cemetery used to bury

important people ofthat time . Sultan Süleyman , his wife Hürrem and Sinan’s bodies

have their own mausoleums inside the complex .6 some other important features ofthe

mosque include the mist rooms that was a brilliant addition to handle the mist that was

5 GeliboluluMustafaAli , Mevä’ídü n-nefä’is , pp 177-78

6Burak sansal .“süleymaniye mosque “ . All about Istanbul . Accessed on October 26 , 2018 http://www.greatistanbul.com/suleymaniye_mosque.html

that were put between lamp bowls in the chandelier to prevent the mosque from being

infested with scorpions and spiders. An interesting fact as to how this palace has been

untouched by the ravages oftime was the hand written document found in a hidden

hole somewhere in the palace that was written by the architect himself. This document

covered word by word details about the methods to protect the arch stones that were

worn out after a long time .7

The quantum leap ofarchitecture

Fig 3.1., Hagia Sophia and Süleymaniye mosque [ top to bottom ]

7Mustafa Gökhan . “süleymaniye mosque” . Tour maker turkey , http://www.tourmakerturkey.- com/suleymaniye-mosque.html

"The Sülemaniye mosque looks like a replica ofthe world renowned Hagia

Sophia", is just a blank understatement. The Süleymaniye mosque was built almost a

millennium after the erection ofHagia Sophia and the intricate details behind every wall

and structure has a knee deep meaning. The imperial architect Sinan stated that his

earlier work in Istanbul ‘Sehzade cami' ( 1543-48 ) was a rather sophisticated form of

Hagia Sophia. And his design ofthe Süleymaniye mosque was a refined version ofthe

Sehzade cami design. Yet he goes on to explain that the design was more ofa çompe

tition’ rather than an ‘imitation’. One ofthe major constructional differences was the

overcoming ofthe structural defect in Hagia Sophia to create a statement that defines

the Ottoman architecture .

Some ofthe similarities that strikes in both these mosques are the elliptical inner

space that was achieved by extending the two halfdomes to provide the central nave

[referfig 3.1.,] . Though this seems like a similarity , its basis and religious reasons vary

hugely . Early European Christian churches were known to split spaces and gave im

portance to directionality thus emphasising on the reason ofsplitting to the domes and

supporting them on two separate tympanums as shown in Hagia Sophia .

In the Süleymaniye mosque , this emphasis on directionality is ofmere impor

tance . The only direction they consider important enough to affect the structural quali

ties ofthe building is the direction ofMecca . The mosque also has two tympanums like

the former but it does not have the whole load on it as the load is smoothly being trans

ferred to the surrounding colonnades .

tional sense to the structure whereas in Sinan’s structure it provides a sense ofunity

between the nave and the aisles .

Sinan’s structures get an upper hand over Hagia Sophia when it comes to light ,

which plays an important role in such imperial buildings which serve the purpose of

spiritual connection. This is because when light enters through the upper domes , tym

panums , exedras , the main drum and other openings in the upper halfthe light that

comes in at the human eye level is disrupted by the screen ofcolonnades . In The Sü

leymaniye mosque these colonnades are not redundant hence adding on to the missing

piece in the former and lighting up the inner space uniformly leading to a centrifugal ef

fect , the expanding feel on the boundaries .

As for the decorations ofthe Süleymaniye mosque , which the Turkish scholars

often neglect while focusing on the architectural features ofthe mosques which is im

portant to contrast with its western counterparts , the intricate muqarnas ( geometric

part ofsquinch ) that imitate the honeycombs , provide an obscure effect offlickering

light and enhances the spatial quality ofthe inner space .

Fig 3.2., Hagia Sophia skyline view

When it comes historical structures , it is important to keep in mind that these

are tokens ofour ancestors that has been bestowed on us and will also be inherited by

the future generations . These buildings narrate a story that is interpreted by various

people in various ways . Comparing two ofthese stories can not be considered a just

way to decide one’s superiority over the other .

Fig 4.1., Süleymaniye mosque domes

Nevertheless , for our study above and to understand why the structure was built

in the obscure it is now , we compare it with another similar building ofits time . Hence

the Süleymaniye mosque not only being an open challenge to one ofJustinian master

piece was also an idiom to the ottoman empire , that being the Hagia Sophia .8

8 Mio Takikawa ,Hagia Sophia and Sinan’s Mosques: Structure and Decoration in Süleymaniye Mosque and Selimiye Mosque , accessed on October 26, 2018.

Bibliography