Turkey has numerous beautiful historical landmarks, remnants of the Ottoman Empire's lavish days. The Blue Mosque, or as it is called in Turkish, Sultan Ahmet Camii was my favorite landmark in Istanbul for its architectural style and design. It was planned by the architext Sedefhar Mehmet Aga and included new elements and styles for its era and built between the years 1609-1616 (commissioned by the Sultan Ahmet I). The sultan had commissioned the mosque to assert Ottoman splendor and power after the Peace of Zsitvatorok (which had weakened the empire), however due to lack of funds, it was a move that showed his weakness. Normally spoils from war victories funded grandiose mosques, but Ahmet was not known for his political prowess. In a scandalous move, he paid for the mosque through the royal treasury. Sultan Ahmet wanted this mosque to be at the forefront of all the mosques in terms of imperial beauty and location- which is why he built it across from the Hagia Sofia at the central point of the city. In its time, the juxtaposition of the location was rife with political and religious symbolism. Even today the location is heavy with meaning- it's a beautiful depiction of religious harmony for Islam and Christianity. It is for this reason that I love the Sultan Ahmet mosque as much as I do, it serves a beautiful image of peace and tolerance.
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