Architectural Geology of Ottoman Istanbul, Part 3: Elephantine Effect | Sultan Ahmed Mosque ("Blue Mosque") (AD 1616)
Detail of one of the mosque's four massive "elephant foot" piers that support the arches and great dome above them.
During my visit, the scaffolding that took up a fair portion of the interior obscured, among many other things, the lower portions of the fluted elephant's feet. What's visible here is the painted upper section. And, under the beautifult inscription band, there's a small part of marble-clad portion.
So far I haven't come across sources that reveal what the piers' internal structural materials are, but most likely its either brick, Bakırköy Limestone, or both. I suspect the marble sheathing is the Proconnesian variety, quarried on the isle of Marmara (also known as Prokonnesos/Proconnesus), in the Sea of Marmara.
What's much more evident, however, is another geologically derived ornamental material, the splendid İznik Tile. There are reportedly over 20,000 glazed ceramic pieces in the Sultan Ahmed Mosque, each is hand-painted. And, as we'll see in succeeding photos of this set, the predominantly floral and vegetative designs they bear are a botanist's delight.
To see the other photos and descriptions in this series, visit my Architectural Geology of Ottoman Istanbul album.
Architectural Geology of Ottoman Istanbul, Part 3: Elephantine Effect | Sultan Ahmed Mosque ("Blue Mosque") (AD 1616)
Detail of one of the mosque's four massive "elephant foot" piers that support the arches and great dome above them.
During my visit, the scaffolding that took up a fair portion of the interior obscured, among many other things, the lower portions of the fluted elephant's feet. What's visible here is the painted upper section. And, under the beautifult inscription band, there's a small part of marble-clad portion.
So far I haven't come across sources that reveal what the piers' internal structural materials are, but most likely its either brick, Bakırköy Limestone, or both. I suspect the marble sheathing is the Proconnesian variety, quarried on the isle of Marmara (also known as Prokonnesos/Proconnesus), in the Sea of Marmara.
What's much more evident, however, is another geologically derived ornamental material, the splendid İznik Tile. There are reportedly over 20,000 glazed ceramic pieces in the Sultan Ahmed Mosque, each is hand-painted. And, as we'll see in succeeding photos of this set, the predominantly floral and vegetative designs they bear are a botanist's delight.
To see the other photos and descriptions in this series, visit my Architectural Geology of Ottoman Istanbul album.