Fatih Mosque
The Mosques not only offer the believers divine pleasure but are also masterwork of the Muslim architecture. Istanbul is a city where east meets west. A place where thousands of years of history seep through magnificent views. Fatih mosque, also famous as “Conqueror’s” is one of the setting of splendid Turkey history. Its building is one of the world most important monuments of architectural history. The Fatih Mosque Complex (Fatih Camii ve Külliyesi) in Istanbul has an exquisite interior like many Turkish mosques, but the main importance of this mosque is its well-known permanent resident, Mehmet the Victor. The Majestic Fatih Mosque was constructed between 1463 and 1470 by Sultan Fatih Mehmet the famous conqueror, who conquer Constantinople in 1453. It has been built as an orthodox church and when Ottomans conquered Istanbul it was converted into a grand mosque. Greek architect Atik Sinan designed this mosque. Sultan Mehmet’s objective was to construct an Islamic monument better than the Hagia Sophia.
This mosque is in the area, fascinated by many tourists. Its area is about 325 meters each side. It had two minarets, each with an upper tier, and with giant pinnacles. Round the mosque, cultural and social centres were installed. In another building free medications were given to those who came and requested them. And a special house was held in reserve for the psychologically retarded people. As per the Vakfiye, two doctors, a surgeon, a drug specialists and many nurses and orderlies were hired in the hospital. Sultan Mehmet had ensured these foundations an income of 60,000 ducats, and multiplied by the way that the income from St. Sophia and its shops, as well as the main stores in the city, were dedicated to these institutions. Fatih founded 6 houses of teaching under the name of “Medarisi-Semaniye” consisting 8 smaller educational centres called “Tetimme”. On the west side of the mosque, for the usage of these cultural centres, he instituted a library and a hospital in which every disease was cured. A “Tibiae” was built for philosophers travelling through or visiting Istanbul, as well as for travellers. As per Vakfiye there were eight tutors for the sciences and doctrine in each school. The study of science comprised philosophy, the natural sciences, grammar, geography, history and algebra. The religious sciences contained the study and interpretation of the Quranic law and the commandments of the Prophet. These teachers were salaried 50 dirhem* per day, almost 250 silver gurûş**. Alongside each teacher was provided subordinate with a pay of 50 silver gurûş a day. The schools called “Tetimme” were for primary studies; once students were done with, they promoted into the prep schools. Rules representing cooking and the kind of foods to be distributed were noted down to the smallest detail.
In the middle of this complex, a tremor in 1766 caused very severe destruction, Mustafa II rebuilt the mosque in its present form. The inaugural ceremony of the rebuilt mosque occurred on Friday the fifteenth of April 1772. The Blue Mosque was selected for the new building. The caravansary in the complex was repaired in the 1980s and joined with new shops to start functioning as a workstation. The hospital, kitchens, market and hammam belonging to the original complex no longer exist.
This mosque is in the area, attracted by many tourists. The size of it is about 325 meters each side. Fatih’s tomb, with its enormous roof and its door whose dome look like in shape a vast mushroom, also its unique entrance is a creation whose magnificence deserves keen attention. The Fatih Mosque, apart from its sacred and spiritual activity, was the division of many social activities and revolts during the centuries.
There are many exciting places near this mosque such as Süleymaniye Mosque and column of maiden. There is also a huge Wednesday market near complex where locals come to shop every Wednesday. There are also many hotels nearby.
All these facts make it well worth a visit.
*dirhem: Ottoman currency
**gurûş: Ottoman currency subunit