Şeyh Süleyman Mosque
Encyclopedia
Şeyh Süleyman Mosque is a mosque
in Istanbul
converted from a former Byzantine
building which was part of the Eastern Orthodox Pantokrator Monastery
. Its usage during the Byzantine era is unclear. The small building is a minor example of architecture of the Byzantine middle period
in Constantinople
.
, in the neighborhood of Zeyrek
, about 120 meters southwest of the former Pantokrator Church, now part of the Mosque of Zeyrek
.
Empress Irene Komnene
. According to some scholars it could have been a burial place, while others think that it was the library of the monastery.
Shortly after the Fall of Constantinople
in 1453, under Mehmed II
, the building was converted into a mosque by Şeyh
Süleyman Halîfe (?–1491). In any case, the instrument endowing the corresponding waqf
is missing. After the great fire of 1756 the building was restored during the reign of Sultan Murad III
by Kazgan Asan Aĝa, and assigned to the nearby medrese.
with pendentives. Inside the building four niches are located in the corners. Underground there is a burial crypt
with eight niches covered by a dome vault. The masonry
of the lower part is made of ashlar
, while in the upper part it consists of bricks
. A Byzantine cistern
is still extant close to the building.
Mosque
A mosque is a place of worship for followers of Islam. The word is likely to have entered the English language through French , from Portuguese , from Spanish , and from Berber , ultimately originating in — . The Arabic word masjid literally means a place of prostration...
in Istanbul
Istanbul
Istanbul , historically known as Byzantium and Constantinople , is the largest city of Turkey. Istanbul metropolitan province had 13.26 million people living in it as of December, 2010, which is 18% of Turkey's population and the 3rd largest metropolitan area in Europe after London and...
converted from a former Byzantine
Byzantine
Byzantine usually refers to the Roman Empire during the Middle Ages.Byzantine may also refer to:* A citizen of the Byzantine Empire, or native Greek during the Middle Ages...
building which was part of the Eastern Orthodox Pantokrator Monastery
Zeyrek Mosque
- External links :*...
. Its usage during the Byzantine era is unclear. The small building is a minor example of architecture of the Byzantine middle period
Byzantine architecture
Byzantine architecture is the architecture of the Byzantine Empire. The empire gradually emerged as a distinct artistic and cultural entity from what is today referred to as the Roman Empire after AD 330, when the Roman Emperor Constantine moved the capital of the Roman Empire east from Rome to...
in Constantinople
Constantinople
Constantinople was the capital of the Roman, Eastern Roman, Byzantine, Latin, and Ottoman Empires. Throughout most of the Middle Ages, Constantinople was Europe's largest and wealthiest city.-Names:...
.
Location
The structure is located in Zeyrek Sokak, in the district of FatihFatih
Fatih is a municipality and district in Istanbul, Turkey that encompasses most of the peninsula coinciding with historic Constantinople. In 2009, the district of Eminönü, formerly a separate municipality located at the tip of the peninsula, was merged into Fatih...
, in the neighborhood of Zeyrek
Zeyrek
Zeyrek is part of the Fatih district of Istanbul. It overlooks the Golden Horn, and got its name from the mosque of Zeyrek. It hosts also several Byzantine cisterns and the little Şeyh Süleyman Mosque, also of byzantine origin...
, about 120 meters southwest of the former Pantokrator Church, now part of the Mosque of Zeyrek
Zeyrek Mosque
- External links :*...
.
History
Nothing is known about the history of this small octagonal building before 1453. Almost certainly it was part of the great Monastery of Christ Pantokrator, erected between 1118 and 1124 by ByzantineByzantine Empire
The Byzantine Empire was the Eastern Roman Empire during the periods of Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages, centred on the capital of Constantinople. Known simply as the Roman Empire or Romania to its inhabitants and neighbours, the Empire was the direct continuation of the Ancient Roman State...
Empress Irene Komnene
Piroska of Hungary
Saint Irene of Hungary, born Piroska, was a daughter of Ladislaus I of Hungary and Adelaide of Swabia. Her maternal grandparents were Rudolf of Rheinfeld and his second wife Adelheid of Savoy. Adelheid was a daughter of Otto of Savoy and Adelaide of Turin. She was the mother of the future emperor...
. According to some scholars it could have been a burial place, while others think that it was the library of the monastery.
Shortly after the Fall of Constantinople
Fall of Constantinople
The Fall of Constantinople was the capture of the capital of the Byzantine Empire, which occurred after a siege by the Ottoman Empire, under the command of Ottoman Sultan Mehmed II, against the defending army commanded by Byzantine Emperor Constantine XI...
in 1453, under Mehmed II
Mehmed II
Mehmed II , was Sultan of the Ottoman Empire for a short time from 1444 to September 1446, and later from...
, the building was converted into a mosque by Şeyh
Sheikh
Not to be confused with sikhSheikh — also spelled Sheik or Shaikh, or transliterated as Shaykh — is an honorific in the Arabic language that literally means "elder" and carries the meaning "leader and/or governor"...
Süleyman Halîfe (?–1491). In any case, the instrument endowing the corresponding waqf
Waqf
A waqf also spelled wakf formally known as wakf-alal-aulad is an inalienable religious endowment in Islamic law, typically denoting a building or plot of land for Muslim religious or charitable purposes. The donated assets are held by a charitable trust...
is missing. After the great fire of 1756 the building was restored during the reign of Sultan Murad III
Murad III
Murad III was the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire from 1574 until his death.-Biography:...
by Kazgan Asan Aĝa, and assigned to the nearby medrese.
Description
The building has a square plan and is topped by a low octagonal domeDome
A dome is a structural element of architecture that resembles the hollow upper half of a sphere. Dome structures made of various materials have a long architectural lineage extending into prehistory....
with pendentives. Inside the building four niches are located in the corners. Underground there is a burial crypt
Crypt
In architecture, a crypt is a stone chamber or vault beneath the floor of a burial vault possibly containing sarcophagi, coffins or relics....
with eight niches covered by a dome vault. The masonry
Masonry
Masonry is the building of structures from individual units laid in and bound together by mortar; the term masonry can also refer to the units themselves. The common materials of masonry construction are brick, stone, marble, granite, travertine, limestone; concrete block, glass block, stucco, and...
of the lower part is made of ashlar
Ashlar
Ashlar is prepared stone work of any type of stone. Masonry using such stones laid in parallel courses is known as ashlar masonry, whereas masonry using irregularly shaped stones is known as rubble masonry. Ashlar blocks are rectangular cuboid blocks that are masonry sculpted to have square edges...
, while in the upper part it consists of bricks
Bricks
Bricks may refer to:* Brick, an artificial stone made by forming clay into rectangular blocks* Brick , a slang term for a device that cannot function due to internal failure...
. A Byzantine cistern
Cistern
A cistern is a waterproof receptacle for holding liquids, usually water. Cisterns are often built to catch and store rainwater. Cisterns are distinguished from wells by their waterproof linings...
is still extant close to the building.
External links
- 3D reconstruction of the Pantokrator Monastery at the Byzantium 1200 project