Located
in the neighborhood of Faith - This was one of the least accessible areas
of the city with the Kýrk Merdiven cliffs on one side and a deep
cistern on the other. The mosque was commissioned by Sultan Selim II and
was built by Architect Sinan between the dates 1568-1574. This grand mosque
stands at the center of a kulliya which comprises a Madrasa, a dar-ul hadis,
a timekeeper's room and an Arasta (row of shops). In this mosque Sinan
employed an octagonal supporting system that is created through eight pillars
incised in a square shell of walls. The four semi domes at the corners
of the square behind the arches that spring from the pillars, are intermediary
sections between the huge encompassing dome and the walls.
These
pillars are related to the back walls through supporting arches that provide
an ambulatory space in front of the encircling walls. This octagonal disposition
of the supporting system and
Abbasid-like mihrab section recall the Church
of Sergio's and Bacchus in Istanbul. However, the galleries of this church behind
the pillars that create a second floor and the entrance mass (narthexes)
are eliminated in Sinan's structure. Hence, the interior of the Selimiye
contains a more illuminated and ample space. On the other hand, the
Abbasid-style
is retained, for a mihrab placed on a shallow southern wall would prevent
the fluidity of the ambulatory space encircling the breathtaking central
hall below the dome.
The mosque is located in an outer courtyard which circles the complex. The area
designated for late arriving worshippers is encircled by 18 columns and 22
domes. The 20
windows around the courtyard are covered with glazed tile
panels, which are the finest examples of the period. The portico of the
courtyard is decorated with floral designs. A reservoir for ablutions is
found in the center of the courtyard. It is domed with eight marble pillars.
There are two minarets with a single gallery each, and rooms on both sides
of the mosque for the imam and müezzin. The shutters of the doors
are fine examples of engraving and mother of pearl relief. The mosque is
square in shape and extremely simple design. The pulpit is made of ornamented
marble.
The
enclosed cemetery on the Qibla, on the side of the mosque contains
the remains of Yavuz Sultan Selim, the heirs of Sultan Sulayman the
Magnificent
who died at a young age, his daughters are three tombs belonging to Sultan Abdulmecid. Of these, the window shutters, doors and wooden banister of
the mausoleum belonging to Yavuz Sultan Selim are masterpieces of mother
of pearl relief. Other than the mosque and mausoleum, the only structure
which survived to the present is the primary school, located in the outer
courtyard.
The
original decoration is recently restored, but gives an idea of Sinan's
artful decorative style. Except the dome, the surfaces of the walls and
arches are very plainly painted in light red in order to mark the
contours
of the basic architectural forms. Glazed tiles cover the mihrab section
and the false arches above the windows of the substructure. They are very
carefully applied to counterpoise the empty walls below and colored arches
and dome above.
The
most conspicuous element inside the mosque is the respondent's platform
(muezzin mahfili) at the center of the zulla (prayer hall). It is a loggia like wooden piece lifted by columns. At the north-western corner, a bulky truncated pillar is placed in order to mask the staircase leading to the podium. This small pillar brings a module to the prodigious scaling of the building. On the outside, there are four minarets ingeniously placed on the four corners of the main prayer hall. Hence the weight of the enclosing dome is balanced with the vertical extension of these slender towers. The conical caps of the turrets springing from the pillars also contributes to this equilibrium. As customary in Sinan's structures, the elements of the supporting and covering systems are exposed on the outside. The semi domes,
pillars, ambulatory space and mihrab can all be perceived from outside. This masterpiece of the world architecture is a real synthesis of the building traditions that flourished in Anatolia. Most prominent of all are Late Roman (Early Byzantine) and Early Turkish elements. Sinan was a real mental giant who had the
power of seeing as well as talent of interpreting this Anatolian inheritance, unique in the world.
