Mihrimah Edirnekapı Mosque, Ottoman mosque in Karagümrük, Turkey
The mosque sits in the Edirnekapı neighborhood and features a central domed space supported by arches and paired columns. The complex includes a religious school, a tomb, public baths, and multiple entrances with stone staircases leading to the main structure.
Architect Sinan completed the structure between 1563 and 1566 commissioned by Mihrimah Sultan, daughter of Süleyman the Lawgiver. The building arose during a period when Ottoman builders tested new techniques for dome construction and created large religious complexes with multiple functions.
The name combines Persian words for sun and moon, referring to the patron who commissioned the building as daughter of Süleyman. The window arrangement was planned so that natural light illuminates the interior differently throughout the day, bathing the prayer hall in changing moods.
The grounds offer several entrances accessible by stone steps, with the main one leading into the prayer hall. Visitors should wear appropriate clothing and show respect during prayer times to avoid disturbing the flow of worship.
In April and May, the sun rises between the two minarets while the moon appears between them at dusk. This astronomical alignment was deliberately calculated and reflects the importance of celestial orientation in Ottoman construction.
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