The Fatih Mosque Complex (Fatih Camii ve Külliyesi) in Istanbul has a lovely interior like many Turkish mosques, but the primary importance of this mosque is its illustrious permanent resident, Mehmet the Conqueror (Fatih Mehmet).
Fatih Mosque and Complex
Fatih Mosque and Complex is located in Fatih district, one of the seven hills of Istanbul. Fatih Mosque was built by Fatih Sultan Mehmet and the architect of the mosque was Sinaüddin Yusuf bin Abdullah (Atik Sinan).
According to the inscription at the top of the public gate, the construction of the mosque was started in1462 and finished in 1470. It was severely damaged by the earthquake in 1509 and restored in the period of Beyazıt II. However, the mosque was damaged again by the earthquake in 1766 and it was repaired by Architect Mehmet Tahir Aga so its original appearance was changed, but it has been open to worship since 1771.
It is not known that is true or not but it is claimed that Byzantine Emperor Constantine’s grave was placed in here, after years the mosque was built on the grave. In the period of the Byzantine, there was the Havariyun Church and many Byzantine Emperor’s tombs on the hill. Also it is interesting but according to Evliya Çelebi’s “Travelogues”, the hands of the architect Atik Sinan were cut because the mosque t was shorter than Hagia Sophia.
There is found the first university of Istanbul in the Fatih Complex which includes 16 madrasas, hospital, soup kitchen, a library, tombs and bath. Some of them were unfortunately demolished and the walls of fountain’s courtyard, the crown gate, the minaret remained originally. There are many graves of Ottoman members as the first the tomb of Fatih Sultan Mehmet. Tombs of wife of Fatih, Gülbahar Sultan, Gazi Osman Pasha, grand viziers and many scientists are found in the complex.
One of the most notable works of Fatih Mosque is an old historical carpet which was made in Hereke Abdülhamid II. There is ostrich egg under the dome of the mosque because it prevents the dome to make networks of spiders. Caravanserai of the complex is used as shops.
The mosque is crowded in five times. Every day, nearly a thousand people come to worship. Tourists both domestic and foreign don’t leave the mosque alone thanks to be a mosque built by Fatih Sultan Mehmet.
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