In the 16th century, a mosque was constructed that had a fundamental influence on the history of architecture and art worldwide. A genius architect, at the age of eighty, created a masterpiece featuring a 2,000-ton, monolithic dome, standing 43 meters high and covering an area of 2,475 square meters, in Edirne, a frontier city of the Ottoman Empire. This work, which stood solid for five centuries and shone like a star in the heart of Edirne, visible from every corner of the city, was referred to by Mimar Sinan as his “masterpiece”. Mimar Sinan, who completed 477 works during his career, 107 of which were mosques, crafted his masterpiece, the Selimiye Mosque, in his later years. Commissioned by Sultan Selim II, this grand mosque was built as a complex and surrounded by the Dar al-Sibyan (elementary school), Dar al-Qurra (Qur’an school), Dar al-Hadith (school of hadith), a timekeeping room (muvakkithane), a library, and a marketplace. Approaching Edirne from 10 to 15 kilometers away, one would first see the elegant minarets, then the majestic dome, followed by the full splendor of the mosque. This visual spectacle highlights Mimar Sinan’s meticulous attention to detail and architectural genius in positioning the mosque. According to legend, Mimar Sinan presented himself before the Sultan and expressed his desire to build a mosque greater than Hagia Sophia. The Sultan agreed to this request and granted his permission. Sinan searched for a suitable location for a long time, but could not find a place that fully satisfied him. Meanwhile, Sultan Selim had a dream in which the Prophet Muhammad instructed him to build the mosque in Edirne. This marked the beginning of the story of the Selimiye Mosque. Some also suggest that Edirne was chosen because there was no available space in Istanbul for a new imperial mosque. Despite being 80 years old, Mimar Sinan completed his masterpiece in just six short years.
The Selimiye Mosque, considered the pinnacle of Ottoman architecture, was constructed on a rectangular foundation. Despite its colossal size and the limited resources of the period, the mosque’s construction, which began in 1568, was completed in a relatively short time. However, Sultan Selim II did not live to see its opening. The mosque was opened for worship by Sultan Murad III a year after Selim’s death. Drawing attention with its monumental appearance, the mosque’s four minarets each with three balconies adorned with muqarnas transitions rank it among the world’s most notable structures. The minarets, crafted with an elegance akin to a delicate pen, have a diameter of only 3.5 meters. These slender yet towering minarets, with proportions that were ahead of their time and seemingly defying the future, are the most distinguished features of Selimiye. Two of the minarets are especially remarkable, each containing three staircases that never intersect. The first staircase leads to the third balcony, the second to the first and second balconies, and the third to all three balconies, allowing three individuals to ascend simultaneously without ever seeing one another. It is said that these staircases and the twelve balconies were designed so that the adhan, performed at the same time during each of the five daily prayers, could be heard from all parts of the city. Standing approximately 85 meters tall, including their finials, the minarets proclaim the grandeur of the Selimiye Mosque to the world. Furthermore, no matter from which angle one views the mosque, only two of the four minarets are visible at a time a result of Mimar Sinan’s architectural genius. The minarets, placed at the corners of the structure, not only enhance its symmetry but also add strength to the rectangular form of the building.
In particular, the dimensions of Selimiye Mosque’s dome represent majestic spatial integrity, and its monolithic structure represents the belief in tawhid. Standing 42.30 meters tall with a diameter of 31.30 meters, its massive dome surpasses all other imperial mosques. The dome resting on an eightcolumn drum is covered with a single dome, a technique never seen before in any mosque. This method, which involved distributing the weight across smaller, more numerous columns, is a testament to Mimar Sinan’s unparalleled mastery. Moreover, the repeated emphasis on the number eight in the mosque’s design is symbolic of the eight gates of paradise. By connecting the mosque’s technical features with Islamic symbols, Sinan demonstrated that his works were not just buildings they embodied a world of meaning and values.
From an engineering perspective, this dome pushed the boundaries of architectural limits, adding both exterior and interior grandeur and depth to the space. The dome was designed to represent the dominance of a single dome from both inside and outside, reaching the pinnacle of dome architecture. While Sinan had previously experimented with this form in the Rustem Pasha Mosque, the dome of Selimiye is twelve times larger. It is this accomplishment that cemented Mimar Sinan’s place in the history of world art.
The massive dome of Selimiye Mosque, adorned with the inscription of Surah al-Ikhlas, is complemented by the muadhdhin’s platform (mahfil) positioned directly beneath it. This platform, designed with parallel reflective geometry, ensures that even those at the farthest points can hear the sound clearly. Furthermore, a noteworthy feature is the reverse tulip motif engraved on one of the platform’s columns, which carries an interesting story. According to legend, a portion of the land on which the mosque was to be built belonged to a woman named Leyla Hanim, who initially refused to sell her land and created some difficulties. Eventually, she was persuaded but requested that a symbol of her be included in the structure. Thus, the tulip design was engraved on the column. However, to symbolize the trouble she had caused, the tulip was depicted upside down. It is said that Leyla Hanım’s land corresponds to the area where the muadhdhin’s platform now stands.
The Selimiye Mosque holds a significant place in the world of art, with its pioneering design, unparalleled architectural features, and its exquisite use of stone, marble, tile, woodwork, handpainted decorations, and mother-of-pearl inlays. The mihrab and minbar, crafted with remarkable marble workmanship, stand as the mosque’s masterpieces. The minbar, in particular, is regarded as the finest example of marble craftsmanship among its peers. The twin panels on the right and left corners of the mihrab wall preserve the artistic elegance, design sophistication, and technical excellence of their time, showcasing magnificent motifs that have survived to this day. The muadhdhin’s platform, featuring 12 marble columns and standing 2 meters tall, is a prime example of classical period decoration, adorned with gold leaf embellishments. The wooden ceiling and borders of the platform are decorated with unparalleled engravings from the era. The mosque’s artistic value is elevated further by the use of meticulously crafted relief-lined tiles produced in Iznik, which bring its artistic splendor to a global level. Mimar Sinan personally designed 101 different tulip motifs used throughout the mosque’s decoration. By the order of Sultan Selim II, the lower section of the mosque up to the windows was adorned with tiles, while the upper section, including the windows, was embellished with the Surah al-Fatihah in tile work, providing visitors with a visual feast. The 99 windows of the mosque allow for perfect lighting of the interior, and it is noteworthy that an underfloor heating system was used in the mosque as early as the 16th century, a remarkable feature of its time.
The Selimiye Mosque and Complex in Edirne was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2011. With its perfect symmetry and remarkable achievements in art and engineering, this masterpiece continues to stand as a beacon in the history of world architecture, originating from Edirne.
