Sultan Ahmed Mosque Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Sultan Ahmed Mosque

Religion
Affiliation	Sunni Islam
Location
Location	Istanbul, Turkey
Architecture
Architect(s)	Sedefkâr Mehmed Agha
Architectural type	Mosque
Architectural style	Islamic, Late Classical Ottoman
Completed	1616
Specifications
Capacity	10,000
Length	73 m (240 ft)
Width	65 m (213 ft)
Dome height (outer)	43 m (141 ft)
Dome dia. (inner)	23.50 m (77.1 ft)
Minaret(s)	6
Minaret height	64 m (210 ft)
Materials
UNESCO World Heritage Site
Part of	Historic Areas of Istanbul
Criteria	Cultural: i, ii, iii, iv
Inscription	1985 (9th Session)

The Sultan Ahmed Mosque, also known as the Blue Mosque, seen from the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul.

The Sultan Ahmed Mosque, often called the Blue Mosque, is a famous place of worship in Istanbul, Turkey. It was built a long time ago, between 1609 and 1616. This was when Ahmed I was the leader of the Ottoman Empire.

Just like many other mosques, the person who started building it, Sultan Ahmed I, is buried there. His main builder, Sedefkar Mehmed Agha, made it look incredibly beautiful. The mosque also has a special school called a madrasah and a place for travelers to rest, known as a hospice. Today, the Blue Mosque is one of the most popular places for tourists to visit in Istanbul.

Why Is It Called the Blue Mosque?
What Is the Story Behind Its Six Minarets?
Who Built This Amazing Mosque?
What Makes Its Architecture Special?
Visiting the Blue Mosque Today
Images for kids
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Why Is It Called the Blue Mosque?

The mosque gets its nickname, the "Blue Mosque," from the thousands of blue tiles that decorate its inside walls. These tiles show beautiful patterns and designs. They make the mosque's interior glow with a lovely blue light, especially when the sun shines through the windows.

What Is the Story Behind Its Six Minarets?

The Sultan Ahmed Mosque is special because it has six tall towers called minarets. Most mosques have fewer. There's a fun story about how it got so many.

Legend says that Sultan Ahmed I wanted his mosque to have gold minarets. The word for gold in Turkish is altın. But, it's believed that the architect might have heard altı instead, which means six. So, instead of gold minarets, the mosque ended up with six of them!

Who Built This Amazing Mosque?

The main architect for the Sultan Ahmed Mosque was a very skilled builder named Sedefkar Mehmed Agha. He was a student of the famous Ottoman architect Mimar Sinan. Mehmed Agha designed the mosque to be grand and impressive. He made sure it had many domes and minarets.

What Makes Its Architecture Special?

The Blue Mosque is a great example of Late Classical Ottoman style. It mixes traditional Islamic designs with some Byzantine ideas. The mosque has a large main dome surrounded by smaller domes. This creates a beautiful, flowing look.

Inside, the mosque is decorated with over 20,000 handmade ceramic tiles. These tiles feature traditional Ottoman patterns like flowers, trees, and geometric shapes. There are also more than 200 stained-glass windows. These windows let in natural light, making the blue tiles shine even more.

Visiting the Blue Mosque Today

The Sultan Ahmed Mosque is still an active place of worship. People come here to pray five times a day. When visitors come, they are asked to dress respectfully. This means covering their shoulders and knees. Women also need to cover their heads. It's a wonderful place to learn about history and culture.