ARCHIQUAKE: April 2010

Recently I had the opportunity to hang out again Istanbul Turkey. This visit began with an invitation thanks to Dr. Ruzardi and Mrs Hastuti to guide them in Istanbul, after they had completed a working visit of UII (Islamic University of Indonesia) to the EMU (Eastern Mediterranean University) in North Cyprus, the university where I am studying now.

After waiting some time at Attaturk airport terminal in Istanbul, we finally got to the hotel where we were staying via the Metro Tram in Istanbul old city area Beyazit. Around this place located the most important objects of Istanbul, among other well-known are the Topkapi Palace, Blue Mosque of Sultan Ahmed, Suleymani Mosque, Grand Bazaar, and so forth. Also some important relics before the era of the Sultanate of Ustmaniah (Ottoman), such as Hagia Shopia, Column of Constantine, etc. as symbols of triumph Konstatinopel before converted as Istanbul in mid-century

I will not have much to discuss these objects in general in Istanbul this time, but atleast there are two mosques that attract my attention, Suleymani Mosque and Rustam Pasha Mosque:

Tram in the Old City area of Istanbul (photo: Ummit Tuncay)

SULEYMANI MOSQUE

Suleymani Mosque is the second largest mosque and is very important to the Ottoman Empire. It may sound a bit not as famous as the Sultan Ahmed Mosque or commonly known as the Blue Mosque, located adjusent to Hagia Shopia (Aya Sofia) and Topkapi Palace. Suleyman Mosque is located on the hill in the middle of the peninsula of Istanbul as well as in the highest places in this area. Architecturally, this mosque is very important that inspires other mosques including Sultan Ahmed around this area. This Mosque was built by Sultan Suleyman I and as the work of famous architect Mimar Sinan built around 1550-1558 AD. Historically, the existence of this mosque was as an answer of Sultan Suleyman to the Hagia Shopia when it was actually built by the Byzantines which was really as a church. This mosque was also once made to show the greatness of Sultan Suleyman I as successor to the Prophet Suleyman and calls himself the Second Solomon, the Prophet Suleyman the famous Dome of the Rock in Israel nowdays.

This mosque dome had collapsed in part due to the earthquake in 1766 in Istanbul, which unfortunately break some major decoration of the mosque. Unfortunately when I was there another renovation was taken so I did not any chance to look up inside. But I was quite amused to visit the tomb of Sultan Suleyman the disseminator of Islam in western area and also as the main and most important sultan in Dinasty Ustmaniah.

Suleymani mosque with Galata Bridge of the Golden Horn waters

One of the gates of the Suleymani Mosque

Boulevard infront of Suleymani Mosque

Suleymani Mosque in Renovation

Mausoleum of Sultan Suleyman

Interior Mausoleum of Sultan Suleyman and relatives

RUSTAM PASHA MOSQUE

Among the many relics in Istanbul, there is one mosque that is not so big but very valuable because it has a amazing ceramic decoration from the era of the Sultanate Ustmani using Iznik ceramics (period 1555-1620) in all over the walls. This ceramic wall style can not be found in other mosques in Istanbul except here in Rustam Pasha Mosque. This mosque is also as one of the great works of Mimar Sinan, built around 1561-1563 on the orders of Sultan Suleyman dedicated to Sultan Rustam Pasha, the daughter's husband of of the Sultan. Since these ceramic tiles are so valuable, the mosque is guarded 24 hours a day byTurkish security to avoid theft who once for antic goods sold to collections in European black market.