Mihrimah Sultana Mosque or Mihrimah Sultan Camii. They are the names of two mosques in Istanbul that bear this name. One is located in Üsküdar and the other in Edirnekapi. The construction of both was entrusted to the greatest Ottoman master architect, Mimar Sinan Pasha, and both are among his first, still experimental works.
Summary
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- 1 History
- 2 Legend
- 3 Gallery
- 4 Internal Links
- 5 Sources
History
The construction of both was entrusted to the master architect Sinan Pasha. The first to be built was the Mihrimah Sultan Camii or İskele Mosque (Iskele Camii) built between 1546 and 1548. It is one of the most important buildings in Üsküdar on the coasts of Asia. The mosque is part of a complex of buildings (a külliye) that is located in Üsküdar Square across from the local ferry pier near the Marmaray construction site. The complex structure was originally composed of a mosque with two minarets, a madrassa, the tomb, the primary school, caravans, a dining room and a small hospital.
Inside the courtyard of the mosque, there is a fountain that stands in the center. The mosque has a single dome and two minarets. The lower windows are rectangular framed and with simple features, there are other windows above them that are triangular in shape and have stained glass windows, above them circular stained glass windows that are impressive in location and beauty. The window blinds have inlaid decorations. The Mimbar and the mihrab niche were made by hand in marble and have some ornate ornaments.
The madrasa, which is located north of the mosque, is used today as a small health center. The tombs between the mosque and the madrasa belong to two sons of Mihrimah and Grand Vizier Ethem Ibrahim Pasha. The primary school is located on the quibla side of the mosque. The other hospice buildings, a dining room, and caravans no longer exist today.
The second mosque also named Mosque of the Sultana Mihrimah is in La Puerta de Edirne, in the wall of the old walls of the old city of Constantinople, near the museum of the Church of Chora. It was one of Sinan’s most imaginative designs, using new support systems and side spaces to increase the area available for windows. Its construction took place from 1562 to 1565
Legend
According to legend Sinan, who was in love with the beautiful Sultana, built the two Mosques so that when viewed from Istanbul, the sun sets behind the Mihrimah Mosque in Edirnekapı and the moon rises behind the two minarets of the Mihrimah Mosque in Üsküdar on Mihrimah’s birthday, March 21, which is also when the equinox happens. There have even been debates among historians stating whether this story is real or not, although it has already become one of the most popular urban legends of Istanbul to this day.
