Istanbul
In Istanbul we visited three significant
buildings; The Sultan Ahmen Mosque, the Sultan’s Palace and St Sophia’s Byzantine Church –
Museum.
The Sultan Ahmed Mosque
The Sultan Ahmed Mosque is an historic mosque in Istanbul. The Sultan Ahmed can accommodate 15000 people for prayers on Friday. The mosque is popularly known as the Blue Mosque for the blue tiles adorning the walls of its interior. It was built from 1609 to 1616, during the rule of Ahmed I.
Sultan’s Palace...
This opulent palace complex is the subject of more colourful stories than most of the world's royal residences put together. It was home to Selim the Sot, who drowned after drinking too much champagne; İbrahim the Mad, who lost his reason after being imprisoned for 22 years by his brother MuratIV; and the malevolent Roxelana, a former concubine who became the powerful consort of Süleyman the Magnificent. And they're just three among a long progression of mad, sad and downright bad Ottomans who lived here between 1453 and 1839.
Mehmet the Conqueror started work on the palace shortly after the Conquest in 1453 and lived here until his death in 1481. Subsequent sultans lived in this rarefied environment until the 19th century, when they moved to ostentatious European-style palaces such as Dolmabahçe, Çırağan and Yıldız that they built on the shores of the Bosphorus. Mahmut II was the last sultan to live in Topkapı. For more detailed information it is worth linking with the official Turkish government website. http://www.topkapisarayi.gov.tr/
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| The Tower of Justice next to the Imperial Council hall |
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| Arz Odası, the Audience Chamber |
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| Clothing worn by Sultan's courtiers |
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| Jewelry and rings |
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| More Jewels |
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| A box of emeralds |
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| Jewels |
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| Court yard |
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| Ceiling of one of the rooms |
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| Circumcision block in Circumcision room |
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| Court yard |
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| Swords and Sheild |
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| Parliament Room |
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| Inside the Museum |
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| Church turned into a mosque and now a museum |
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| Fresco of Jesus, Sultan and Mary (Sultan's 3rd wife) |
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| Mary and Jesus with Sultan and wife |
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| The alter was rearranged to face Mecca |
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| Ceiling of the Bascilica |
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| Fresco of Sultan kissing Jesus Feet |
by East Roman Philon as far back as the 6th century.
The current Hagia Sophia is the third construction, done in a different architectural style, even though it occupies the same location as the previous two. The original building was constructed by the most important architects of the period (527-565), Anthemios (Tralles) and Isidoros (Miletus), under the order of Emperor Justinianos. It is mentioned in the resources that during its construction period, the two prominent architects each had 100 architects working under them, who in turn had 100 workers each working under them.
The construction of the Hagia Sophia began on February 23, 532. It was completed before long, approximately within 5 years and 10 months. It was then opened to divine service with a great ceremony on December 27, 537. It was used as a church for 916 years but, following the conquest of Istanbul by Fatih Sultan Mehmed, the Hagia Sophia was converted into mosque. Afterwards, it was used as a mosque for 482 years. Under the order of Atatürk and the decision of the Council of Ministers, Hagia Sophia was converted into a museum in 1935.
We boarded a bus for Istambul airport this time bound for Kapadokya... Central Turkey
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| Inside the Mosque |
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