The Blue Mosque
The Blue Mosque (or the Sultan Ahmed Mosque) was included in the UNESCO World Heritage Site list in 1985 under “Historic Areas of Istanbul”. It is one of the most famous sights in Istanbul. In Morocco, the only mosque non-Muslim women can enter is the Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca, whereas women can enter almost any mosque in Turkey. Women must adhere to a modest dress code, which includes covering their hair, shoulders, and legs, and are required to wear provided scarves and sometimes skirts if necessary.
Sultan Ahmed I was only 19 years old when he commissioned the construction of the Blue Mosque in 1609. It was built between 1609 and 1616 and is a masterpiece of Ottoman architecture designed to reassert Ottoman power. It was built opposite the Hagia Sophia by architect Sedefkâr Mehmed Ağa, featuring six minarets and over 20,000 blue Iznik tiles. It was one of the first mosques in the Ottoman Empire to have six minarets, which caused controversy because the Kaaba in Mecca only had six at the time. This was considered disrespectful to the Kaaba. The Sultan had to fund a seventh minaret in Mecca to resolve the issue. The addition allowed Mecca’s spiritual supremacy to be maintained.
The interior is illuminated by over 260 stained-glass windows, originally allowing for natural light to enhance the blue tiles. Iznik tiles are high-quality, quartz-based Turkish ceramics originating from Iznik in the 15th–17th centuries. Renowned for vibrant cobalt blue, turquoise, and “Iznik red” colours, these tiles also decorated Ottoman masterpieces like the Topkapi Palace. They are characterized by complex floral motifs, including tulips, carnations, and hyacinths. The “Blue Mosque” received its popular nickname due to the thousands of blue-toned Iznik tiles that decorate its interior.
The 23.5-meter-diameter dome (43 meters high) adds to the mosque’s grandeur. It is surrounded by four semi-domes and eight smaller domes, creating a cascading effect, and rests on four massive, five-meter-wide pillars commonly referred to as “elephant feet”. It is said to represent the heavens, unity, and the divine, with interior decorations symbolizing paradise. The eight secondary domes surrounding the main dome provide structural balance.
Inside the main prayer hall, an adorned marble fountain was built into one of the massive “elephant foot” pillars. These fountains were designed for ritual washing before prayer and were constructed along with the mosque between 1609 and 1617. The fountain is constructed from carved marble featuring intricate carvings and a brass tap for water.
The total capacity of the entire mosque complex, including the main men’s hall and prayer areas, is often estimated at around 10,000.
The women’s prayer area is behind the shoe rack. This dedicated women’s section is significantly smaller, hosting around 50 at a time. Perhaps this is because women are apparently not expected or required to pray in a mosque, nor is congregational prayer compulsory for them, as it is for men. Women are advised that praying at home is considered better, safer and more virtuous, though they are not prohibited from attending mosque. A woman praying at home receives the same spiritual reward as attending the mosque, without the need to travel.
Beneath its cascade of domes and the soft glow of Iznik tiles, the Blue Mosque is not merely a structure of stone and symmetry, but a living expression of devotion – where art, faith, and history meet in quiet harmony. Best of all, entrance to this magnificent mosque is free – so I would suggest that you make the time to explore it if you visit Istanbul…
Jacqui Ikin & The Cross Country Team
