The Examination of the Mahfels of some Mosques, Belong to the First Twenty-Five Years (1538-1563) of Architecture of Sinan in İstanbul

Abstract

Mahfels, are the spaces of mosques constructed by rising above the columns, are
used as a tradition in the architect Sinan’s Mosques. This study includes
examination of the mahfels; take place in some mosques belongs to the first
twenty-five years of architecture of Sinan in İstanbul. Starting with the definition
of mahfel’s architecture, mahfel’s localisations in the chosen mosques and their
relations between each other are the main topics. Samples are chosen randomly
within the ones that preserve its original condition and they are visited and
observed one by one. In terms of mahfels’ localisations in a mosque: mahfels
built on the north side wall and east-west side and north side walls are two main
sub-titles. Furthermore, in terms of mahfels’ relations between each other: the
mahfels with transitions and the mahfels without transitions are the other two main sub-topics of this study. Chosen samples are: the mahfels of Mihrimah Sultan Mosque, located in Üsküdar, (1548), Hadım İbrahim Pasha Mosque (1551), Şehzade Mosque (1548), Süleymaniye Mosque (1557), Mihrimah Sultan Mosque, located in Edirnekapı (1565), Kara Ahmet Pasha Mosque (1554-1571)
and Rüstem Pasha Mosque (1562).