On a background of white and deep indigo blue, sprigs of foliage spread. They weave in and out of each other in shades of turquoise, emerald, and crimson. Here is a flower bud, there is a bloom that has opened in full glory. They are preserved forever, painted on tiles to form an unmistakable and rare kind of ceramic: Iznik tile. Throughout the Ottoman Empire, these tiles festoon the walls of certain buildings, especially mosques, and help mark them as part of the grand Ottoman tradition of art and architecture.
He brought riches and security to his people. This created an ideal environment for culture and the arts to flourish—including architecture. In fact, Süleyman had a separate position in his court for a chief architect.
This architect’s name? Mimar Sinan (literally “The Architect” Sinan in Turkish).
Sinan is the most famous of all Ottoman architects. From a Christian background, he began his career in the Ottoman army, serving as a Janissary and a mechanicus (architect- engineer). His skills caught the attention of the grand vizier of the empire, and he was offered the job of chief architect for the sultanate. Sinan remained in his high position for nearly fifty years.
The Ottoman capital, home to the sultanate, was in Istanbul. This mattered to Sinan for one very important reason: it housed the Hagia Sophia. This triumph of a building was the pinnacle of Byzantine architecture with its grand dome. When the Ottomans captured the city, they had converted it from a Christian church into the premier Friday Mosque of the sultan’s new capital, and it became the pattern for Ottoman mosques built across the empire.
Sinan drew endless inspiration from the Hagia Sophia, learning from it, competing with it, admiring it.
When people compare Sinan’s buildings to the Hagia Sophia, similarities are easy to spot: they share ornate decoration and are often perched on hills or ridges (for the best visibility). But the biggest similarity is the domed shape. Sinan was fascinated with domes and experimented with them when he planned a new building project.
But Sinan was not only inspired by the Hagia Sophia—he also added to it. Today, four minarets, two built by Sina, stand tall at its corners. Apart from its domes, these minarets are some of the most recognizable features of the Hagia Sophia.
He became famous for designing grand mosques, but Sinan also built schools, bridges, and even water systems.
Many of today’s scholars think that the Süleymaniye Mosque, one of the biggest in the empire, is his most impressive accomplishment. Inside, the Istanbul sun casts beautiful, multicolored light as it filters through Turkish stained glass.
However, Selimiye Complex was his favorite—but why?
Selimiye Complex decorates the skyline of a city called Edirne. The capital city during the 15th century, it was the first structure Europeans travelers saw as they journeyed to the Ottoman Empire over land. Its minarets were the tallest in the Islamic religion, and Sinan boasted that its dome was bigger than the Hagia Sophia’s.
That wasn’t the only reason he was proud of the dome though. Instead of resting the huge dome on flat walls, Selimiye Mosque’s dome was held up by eight pillars and eight arched structures. The interior felt airy without heavy walls or pillars blocking the way. Outside, half domes and covered porches cascaded down. They hid extra supports for the main dome. In delight, Sinan added window after window. He flooded his masterpiece with light, illuminating the delicate patterns of his signature Iznik tiles, provoking awe in any guest who entered.
Sinan’s buildings showed the power of the sultan at that time. Although the Ottoman Empire eventually fell, it left behind a legacy in its architecture. Today, people still travel to Turkey to Sinan’s masterpieces, realizing along the way that the Ottomans may have boasted one of the greatest architects who ever lived. His tomb is quietly nestled just outside the walls of the Süleymaniye Mosque complex in Istanbul today.