MOSQUE OF BEYAZIT
Beyazit, son of the Conqueror Mehmet II had it built the
mosque of Beyazit in 1501-1505. It is one of the classical
examples of Osmanli Architecture. The placing of the courtyard
and the gates reflect the Seljuk influence; the arcades
of the courtyard rest on 20 columns of green and grey
granite, the white marble capitals and the marble stalactites
depending from them, are in the Turkish style; the 24
cupolas rising from the columns follow the encircling
line of the monument. The entrance to the mosque has a
feature peculiar to itself, not found elsewhere, it encloses
the stalls of rosary sellers and parfumiers specialising
in sweet-smelling essences. The interior of the mosque
is simple in plan, being a variation on that of Saint-Sophia.
The central dome is supported by two half-domes which
themselves rest on two solid columns. These columns, 6
meters in height and 1 meter 40 cm in circumference, are
made of Egyptian porphyry.
The
present bareness of the square may surprise you, but scarcely
ten years ago it was one of the most beautiful in Istanbul,
with a fine pool jetting miniature cascades among the
leafy foliage of the trees and shrubs, an abundance of
greenery to rest the gaze, the noble reflections of the
mosque in the still waters of the pool... Everything which
gives value to this square belongs to the service of history:
buildings, private mansions, ancient edifices, etc...
The builder of this beautiful mosque, which bears his
name, the Sultan Beyazit, had an lmaret built opposite
to it, and a little further down, at the beginning of
the boulevard, a Hamam with twin cupolas. As for the Hamam,
it awaits a renewal of life to resume its activities;
the Imaret has become a large municipal library. To the
right rise the monumental gates of the University, which
were originally, in the Ottoman era, the portals of the
War Ministry. The University buildings situated in the
garden belonged originally to the War Department; to the
right of the gateway are the rectory offices, to the left
those of the teachers; the central building in the interior
of the garden is used for meetings organised by the University,
and one part of it serves as the administrative section.
Right at the beginning the Conqueror had a wooden palace
built on the present site of the University garden. After
the building of the Topkapi Palace, this wooden palace
was given the title of Old Seraglio and was used to accomodate
the aged ladies of the Palace and those who, either by
the death or deposition of a Sultan, had forfeited their
rank.
