ISTANBUL has many age-defying mosques, some with columns decorated with ornaments of master calligraphers who lived centuries ago and some with altars with fine embroideries. The domes of Istanbul’s mosques feature the finest samples of Turkish calligraphy. Ş. Levent Deniz took images of tens of mosques, including the Beyazıt Mosque, which still maintains the original state of calligraphy works in its domes, and the Grand Mecidiye Mosque, of which the Sultan himself performed the calligraphy art. The Istanbul Chamber of Commerce published and presented the photographs to readers in a book.

20 THOUSAND PHOTOS

The book ‘Kubbe-i Istanbul’ contains photos of the domes of fifty Istanbul mosques with symbolic meanings. A selection was made for the book from over 20 thousand photos. In addition to the pictures of domes, the book includes images of details on the altars, minarets and columns.

AMONG THE OLDEST

Beyazıt Mosque houses one of the oldest domes displayed by the book. Sultan Bayezid II commissioned the mosque’s construction in 1505, and it is considered one of the last examples of early Ottoman classical architecture. Moreover, its dome stands out as one of the rare domes to preserve its original state to date. According to the book, the first verse of the Isra Sura (section of the Quran) on ascension was engraved on the main dome of the mosque.

SULTAN’S WORK

One of the most distinctive mosques in the book is the Grand Mecidiye Mosque, also known as the Ortaköy Mosque. Commissioned by Sultan Abdulmecid in 1854, the most critical point that distinguishes the mosque is the calligraphy that embroiders the walls, and the Sultan himself handwrites the minbar. Ertuğrul Tekke Mosque, on the other hand, is another mosque that features the works of sultans. The wooden minbar (preaching table) in the mosque built in 1888 was manufactured by Sultan Abdulhamid II.

YELLOW PLATES

Fatih Mosque, dating from 1470, stands out in the book. The mosque preserves the original tile art in the narthex with seven domes and features the first examples of Jeli Duluth-style handwriting. Fatih Mosque’s plates are coated with yellow, which also catches the eye.

The advice on tolerance over the dome   

The domes have been guarding the works of the distinguished calligraphers for centuries, and almost all of them feature sacred verses. The domes of the historical mosques across Istanbul feature the verse that notes, “Without doubt, Allah prevents the destruction of the skies and ground. If they are destroyed, nobody (no one else than Allah) can guard them (in their systems). Without doubt, he is tolerant, he forgives.”



Engraved with nanotechnology 

In addition to the historical mosques, the book features dome images of recent mosques as well. One of these mosques is the Çamlıca Mosque, which opened in 2019. The stainless-steel domes in the four different sections of the mosque were manufactured with nanotechnology. Conquest Sura was completely engraved over the 220-meter steel belts under the dome.

Best examples of hand drawing

Kara Ahmed Paşa Mosque, commissioned by the Grand Vizier Kara Ahmed Paşa in 1554, is also one of Istanbul’s most remarkable mosques. This mosque’s dome features a rare sample of the Fatiha Sura in handwriting. The mosque regarded as the mosque that features the best handwritten works of art is also known as the last mosque designed by Sinan, the Grand Architect.