View allAll Photos Tagged tughra
neo-Byzantine style octagonal fountain
eight porphyry columns.
mosaic tiled platform
There are eight monograms in the stonework and they represent political alliance of Abdülhamid II and Wilhelm.
There are eight medallion situated on arches that are between columns. In four of these medallions, Abdülhamid II's tughra is written on green background, and in other four Wilhelm's symbol " a
The bronze inscription on the fountain, which was written in German, reads "Wilhelm II Deutscher Kaiser Stiftete Diesen Brunnen In Dankbarer Erinnerung An Seinen Besuch Bei Seiner Majiestaet Dem Kaiser Der Osmanen Abdül Hamid II Im Herbst Des Jahres 1898" meaning "German Kaiser Wilhelm II, who constructed this fountain in 1898 autumn, as a gratitude remembrance for his visit to Ottoman Sultan Abdülhamid II". There is also an Ottoman inscription in the arch of the fountain.
DSCN3824
Tugra es el sello o la firma imperial. Se puede ver en infinidad de lugares. Todas las firmas imperiales guardan similitudes, se encargaba del diseño de estas el calígrafo mayor de la corte.
Palacio de Topkapi, Estambul
Dolmabahçe Clock Tower (Turkish: Dolmabahçe Saat Kulesi) is a clock tower situated outside Dolmabahçe Palace in Istanbul, Turkey. The tower was ordered by Ottoman sultan Abdülhamid II (1842–1918) and designed by the court architect Sarkis Balyan between 1890 and 1895.
The clock tower was added to Dolmabahçe Palace, and stands in front of its Treasury Gate on a square along the European waterfront of Bosphorus next to Dolmabahçe Mosque. Designed in Ottoman neo-baroque style, the four-sided, four-story tower stands on a floor area of 8.5 × 8.5 m (28 × 28 ft) at a height of 27 m (89 ft). Its clock was manufactured by the renowned French clockmaker house of Jean-Paul Garnier, and installed by the court clock master Johann Mayer. In 1979, the original mechanical clock was converted partly to an electrical one. On two opposite sides of the tower, the tughra of Sultan Abdul Hamid II is put on
A tughra (Ottoman Turkish: طغراء; Ṭuğrā) is a calligraphic seal or signature of an Ottoman sultan that was affixed to all official documents and correspondence. It was also carved on his seal and stamped on the coins minted during his reign.
The tughra was designed at the beginning of the sultan's reign and drawn by the court calligrapher or nişancı on written documents. The first tughra belonged to Orhan I (1284-1359), the second ruler of the Ottoman Empire and it evolved until it reached the classical form in the tughra of Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent (1494-1596).
Tughras served a purpose similar to the cartouche in ancient Egypt or the Royal Cypher of British monarchs. Every Ottoman sultan had his own individual tughra.
( thanks to aliaydogmus35 for the reference)
This is the tughra, a calligraphic monogram of Abdul Hamid II, the 34th Sultan of the Ottoman Empire.
El-Jazzar Mosque - Akko, Israel
"The el-Jazzar Mosque was the project of its namesake, Ahmad Pasha el-Jazzar, the Acre-based governor of the Sidon and Damascus provinces, who was equally famous for his cruelty, impressive public works, and defeat of Napoleon Bonaparte at the Siege of Acre in 1799. El-Jazzar ordered the mosque's construction in 1781 and had it completed within the year. Despite lacking architectural training, el-Jazzar was the architect of the mosque, drawing up its plans and design, and supervising its entire construction. In addition to the mosque itself, the complex included an Islamic theological academy with student lodging, an Islamic court and a public library. The mosque was built for religious purposes, but its grandiose size and additional functions were also intended by el-Jazzar to serve as a means of consolidating his political legitimacy as ruler of Syria. He modeled the mosque on the mosques of Istanbul, the Ottoman capital.
The el-Jazzar Mosque was built over former Muslim and Christian prayer houses and other Crusader buildings. Building materials for the mosque, particularly its marble and granite components, were taken from the ancient ruins of Caesarea, Atlit and medieval Acre. El-Jazzar commissioned several Greek masons as the mosque's builders. There is a tughra or monogram on a marble disc inside the gate, naming the ruling Sultan, his father, and bearing the legend "ever-victorious".
Adjacent to the mosque is a mausoleum and small graveyard containing the tombs of Jazzar Pasha and his adoptive son and successor, Sulayman Pasha, and their relatives."
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/El-Jazzar_Mosque
AIMG_4421
El-Jazzar Mosque - Akko, Israel
"The el-Jazzar Mosque was the project of its namesake, Ahmad Pasha el-Jazzar, the Acre-based governor of the Sidon and Damascus provinces, who was equally famous for his cruelty, impressive public works, and defeat of Napoleon Bonaparte at the Siege of Acre in 1799. El-Jazzar ordered the mosque's construction in 1781 and had it completed within the year. Despite lacking architectural training, el-Jazzar was the architect of the mosque, drawing up its plans and design, and supervising its entire construction. In addition to the mosque itself, the complex included an Islamic theological academy with student lodging, an Islamic court and a public library. The mosque was built for religious purposes, but its grandiose size and additional functions were also intended by el-Jazzar to serve as a means of consolidating his political legitimacy as ruler of Syria. He modeled the mosque on the mosques of Istanbul, the Ottoman capital.
The el-Jazzar Mosque was built over former Muslim and Christian prayer houses and other Crusader buildings. Building materials for the mosque, particularly its marble and granite components, were taken from the ancient ruins of Caesarea, Atlit and medieval Acre. El-Jazzar commissioned several Greek masons as the mosque's builders. There is a tughra or monogram on a marble disc inside the gate, naming the ruling Sultan, his father, and bearing the legend "ever-victorious".
Adjacent to the mosque is a mausoleum and small graveyard containing the tombs of Jazzar Pasha and his adoptive son and successor, Sulayman Pasha, and their relatives."
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/El-Jazzar_Mosque
AIMG_4432
This spectacular monument was built by the famous Subehdar (Governor) of the Punjab (1041/1632), Hakim Aliuddin (sometimes also referred to as Ilmuddin) in 1634. Hailing from the Punjab town of Chiniot on the banks of the river Chenab, Aliuddin had been employed by shahzada (prince) Khurram (later Emperor Shah Jahan) as a hakim (physician). He rendered great service to the prince during the various campaigns, and became one of the most trusted aides of the emperor—it was Aliuddin, along with Prince Shah Shuja, who was entrusted with the task of bringing the body of the deceased queen Mumtaz Mahal from Burhanpur to Agra to be buried in the Taj Mahal. Granted the title of Wazir Khan in 1620, he was raised to the mansab (title) of 5000 foot and 3000 horse (panj-hazari) on Shah Jahan's accession to the Mughal throne (1037/1628). It is the same Wazir Khan, who was entrusted with the building of the Khwabgah and Hammam-e-Badshahi in Lahore Fort, just before Shah Jahan embarked on his journey to Kashmir in the summer of 1634 from Lahore—his first visit to the Punjab capital after ascending the throne.
The mosque is located about a furlong from the Delhi gate and off the Kashmiri bazaar. Traversing the bustling bazaar through a gateway, beyond which the towering minaret of Wazir Khan's mosque beckons you, you turn left into the chowk named after the builder of the mosque. The chowk outside the mosque probably once formed an important part of the plan of the old city of Lahore. The mosque was so located in the centre of the city that all the major routes and bazaars were linked with it at right angles.
The chowk or jilau khana is enclosed by other Mughal structures incorporating overlooking balconies. Although much dilapidated today, they were built by Wazir Khan and bequeathed to the mosque for its maintenance. In view of the lack of a jamia masjid in the fort during Shah Jahan's reign—Badshahi Masjid was built later—Wazir Khan's mosque served as imperial Jamia Masjid, utilized by the emperor and his grandees and large retinue to offer Friday prayers. Until the construction of Badshahi Mosque, surely, the emperor and his entire retinue, exiting from Akbari Gateway of the Fort, traversed the route via Masti Gate Bazaar, Chunna Mandi Chowk, Kotwali Walla Bazaar and Chowk Kotwali to arrive at the wonderfully decorated Wazir Khan Mosque.
The mosque is situated on a raised platform and is reached by a flight of steps to the east. The imposing east doorway—a lofty aiwan or Timurid peshtatq with its decorative muqarnas semi-domical roof, flanked by decorative oriel-like projecting balconies on the upper level—beckons you into its octagonal vestibule. The six steps in this wide passage lead to a platform under the front niche of this gate; another step leads to the centre of a covered octagonal court, the central domed position of this gate. This central roofed area is connected by steps on all four sides: one enters from the east and north through a stepped passage, and from this same centre, opposite the east entrance, one crosses several steps to the west to enter the courtyard of the mosque.
To the north and south of the great octagonal forecourt stretch out galleries with double rows of arcade chambers, each with a sixteen feet wide passage between. This part of the mosque, known as the forecourt, was a novel innovation in the evolution of the mosque plan. The central octagonal court also has double rooms in each of its four corners, probably reserved for the gatekeepers of the mosque. This arrangement is repeated on the upper story of this position. The northern and the southern sides of the main court of the mosque have eleven rooms each, of which those adjacent to the aiwan and minars are double, and probably were reserved for the library attached to the mosque, indicating that apart from serving as a place of worship, this mosque served as a college.
As you step into the enormous sunlit courtyard, 160' x 130', you could hardly have prepared yourself for the splendid piece of architecture that presents itself. This oasis of beauty, elegance and calm overpowers you as you stand in the mosque courtyard, framed by the praying chamber on the west, khanas or study cloisters for religious scholars on the north and south, and the deorhi with entrance cubicles on the east. The whole building presents a dazzling view of tile-mosaic and frescoes of extraordinary beauty, which could hardly have been imagined when you battled through the narrow winding streets filled with jostling crowds.
The arrangement of the 5-bay single aisle prayer chamber 130' long, framed by simple cusped arches carried on deep piers, is reminiscent of the Maryam Zamani (Begam Shahi) Mosque. The central dome, rising higher than others, accents the elegantly detailed mihrab, the ingenious construction of double domes carrying the voice of the imam to the extremity of the courtyard.
The arrangement of kalib kari, a tracery of pendentives, is used in large as well as intricate beehive patterns, giving a special flavour to the building. Its stately octagonal minarets rising to a height of over 100 feet and defining the four extremities of the courtyard, consist of several stages and are capped with a kiosk (chattri) configuration terminated with fluted cupolas, all profusely decorated with the best of Shahjahani tile mosaic. The work was supervised by leading Persian artists who had come to India on the orders of Shah Jahan. One of its most attractive features is the colorful floral and calligraphic designs in glazed tile mosaic work, said to be introduced from Thatta during the 16th century. It is in the decorated panels of this mosque that the cypress as a motif on enameled mosaic work appears for the first time. The improved octagonal minarets, among the earliest of this type in Mughal architecture, are another distinctive feature of the mosque.
The superb calligraphy by well known khattats (master calligraphers) in rendering verses from the Holy Quran and Persian poetry in elegant nastaliq, naskh and tughra forms is itself a treat. The extraordinary blend of calligraphy, geometrical forms and floral decoration along with large-scale scintillating kashi kari (tile mosaic), fresco painting, stone and chunam (plaster) decoration, with taza kari (brick outline fresco) lends the mosque a character entirely its own. Lockwood Kipling was not far wrong when he declared "This beautiful building is in itself a school of design."
In the basement of the courtyard of the mosque is situated the shrine of the saint Syed Muhammad Ishaq Gazruni, who died in the 14th century.
The Washington Monument is an obelisk on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., built to commemorate George Washington, once commander-in-chief of the Continental Army and the first American president. Standing almost due east of the Reflecting Pool and the Lincoln Memorial, the monument, made of marble, granite, and bluestone gneiss, is both the world's tallest stone structure and the world's tallest obelisk, standing 554 feet 7 11⁄32 inches (169.046 m) tall.[n 1] It is the tallest monumental column in the world if all are measured above their pedestrian entrances, but two are taller when measured above ground, although the latter are neither all stone nor true obelisks.
Construction of the monument began in 1848, and was halted from 1854 to 1877 due to a lack of funds, a struggle for control over the Washington National Monument Society, and the intervention of the American Civil War. Although the stone structure was completed in 1884, internal ironwork, the knoll, and other finishing touches were not completed until 1888. A difference in shading of the marble, visible approximately 150 feet (46 m) or 27% up, shows where construction was halted. Its original design was by Robert Mills, an architect of the 1840s, but he suspended his colonnade, proceeding only with his obelisk, whose flat top was altered to a pointed pyramidion in 1879. The cornerstone was laid on July 4, 1848; the first stone at the 152-foot level was laid August 7, 1880, the capstone was set on December 6, 1884, and the completed monument was dedicated on February 21, 1885. It officially opened October 9, 1888. Upon completion, it became the world's tallest structure, a title previously held by the Cologne Cathedral. The monument held this designation until 1889, when the Eiffel Tower was completed in Paris, France.
The monument was damaged during the 2011 Virginia earthquake and Hurricane Irene in the same year and remained closed to the public while the structure was assessed and repaired. After 32 months of repairs, the National Park Service and the Trust for the National Mall reopened the Washington Monument to visitors on May 12, 2014.
Rationale
Hailed as the father of his country, and as the leader who was "first in war, first in peace, and first in the hearts of his countrymen," George Washington (1732–1799) was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1798. Even his erstwhile enemy King George III called him "the greatest character of the age."
At his death in 1799 he left a critical legacy; he exemplified the core ideals of the American Revolution and the new nation: republican virtue and devotion to civic duty. Washington was the unchallenged public icon of American military and civic patriotism. He was also identified with the Federalist Party, which lost control of the national government in 1800 to the Jeffersonian Republicans, who were reluctant to celebrate the hero of the opposition party.
Proposals for a memorial
Starting with victory in the Revolution, there were many proposals to build a monument to Washington. After his death, Congress authorized a suitable memorial in the national capital, but the decision was reversed when the Democratic-Republican Party (Jeffersonian Republicans) took control of Congress in 1801. The Republicans were dismayed that Washington had become the symbol of the Federalist Party; furthermore the values of Republicanism seemed hostile to the idea of building monuments to powerful men. They also blocked his image on coins or the celebration of his birthday. Further political squabbling, along with the North-South division on the Civil War, blocked the completion of the Washington Monument until the late 19th century. By that time, Washington had the image of a national hero who could be celebrated by both North and South, and memorials to him were no longer controversial.
As early as 1783, the Continental Congress had resolved "That an equestrian statue of George Washington be erected at the place where the residence of Congress shall be established." The proposal called for engraving on the statue which explained it had been erected "in honor of George Washington, the illustrious Commander-in-Chief of the Armies of the United States of America during the war which vindicated and secured their liberty, sovereignty, and independence." Currently, there are two equestrian statues of President Washington in Washington, D.C. One is located in Washington Circle at the intersection of the Foggy Bottom and West End neighborhoods at the north end of the George Washington University, and the other is in the gardens of the National Cathedral.
Ten days after Washington's death, a Congressional committee recommended a different type of monument. John Marshall, a Representative from Virginia (who later became Chief Justice of the Supreme Court) proposed that a tomb be erected within the Capitol. However, a lack of funds, disagreement over what type of memorial would best honor the country's first president, and the Washington family's reluctance to move his body prevented progress on any project.
Design
Progress toward a memorial finally began in 1832. That year, which marked the 100th anniversary of Washington's birth, a large group of concerned citizens formed the Washington National Monument Society. In 1836, after they had raised $28,000 in donations ($16,500,000 in 2013), they announced a competition for the design of the memorial.:chp 1
On September 23, 1835, the board of managers of the society described their expectations:
It is proposed that the contemplated monument shall be like him in whose honor it is to be constructed, unparalleled in the world, and commensurate with the gratitude, liberality, and patriotism of the people by whom it is to be erected ... [It] should blend stupendousness with elegance, and be of such magnitude and beauty as to be an object of pride to the American people, and of admiration to all who see it. Its material is intended to be wholly American, and to be of marble and granite brought from each state, that each state may participate in the glory of contributing material as well as in funds to its construction.
The society held a competition for designs in 1836. The winner was architect Robert Mills. The citizens of Baltimore had chosen him to build a monument to Washington, and he had designed a tall Greek column surmounted by a statue of the President. Mills also knew the capital well, having just been chosen Architect of Public Buildings for Washington. His design called for a tall obelisk—an upright, four-sided pillar that tapers as it rises—with a nearly flat top. He surrounded the obelisk with a circular colonnade, the top of which would feature Washington standing in a chariot. Inside the colonnade would be statues of 30 prominent Revolutionary War heroes.
One part of Mills' elaborate design that was built was the doorway surmounted by an Egyptian-style Winged sun. It was removed in 1885, after the monument was dedicated. A photo can be seen in The Egyptian Revival by Richard G. Carrot.
Criticism of Mills' design and its estimated price tag of more than $1 million ($589,100,000 in 2013) caused the society to hesitate. Its members decided to start building the obelisk, and to leave the question of the colonnade for later. They believed that if they used the $87,000 they had already collected to start work, the appearance of the monument would spur further donations that would allow them to complete the project.
Construction
Excavation
In early 1848, workers started to build the Washington Monument's foundation. On July 4, 1848, the Freemasons, an organization to which Washington belonged, laid the cornerstone. According to one bystander:
No more Washingtons shall come in our time ... But his virtues are stamped on the heart of mankind. He who is great in the battlefield looks upward to the generalship of Washington. He who grows wise in counsel feels that he is imitating Washington. He who can resign power against the wishes of a people, has in his eye the bright example of Washington
Cornerstone
The cornerstone was laid with great ceremony at the northeast corner of the lowest course or step of the old foundation on July 4, 1848. Robert Mills, the architect of the monument, stated in September 1848, "The foundations are now brought up nearly to the surface of the ground; the second step being nearly completed, which covers up the corner stone.":20 Therefore, the cornerstone was laid below the 1848 ground level. In 1880, the ground level was raised 17 feet (5.2 m) to the base of the shaft by the addition of a 30-foot (9.1 m) wide earthen embankment encircling the reinforced foundation, widened another 30 feet in 1881, and then the knoll was constructed in 1887–88.:70, 95–96:B-36 to B-39 If the cornerstone was not moved during the strengthening of the foundation in 1879–80, its upper surface would now be 21 feet (6.4 m) below the pavement just outside the northeast corner of the shaft. It would now be sandwiched between the concrete slab under the old foundation and the concrete buttress completely encircling what remains of the old foundation. During the strengthening process, about half (by volume) of the periphery of the lowest seven of eight courses or steps of the old foundation (gneiss slabs) was removed to provide good footing for the buttress. Although a few diagrams, pictures and descriptions of this process exist, the fate of the cornerstone is not mentioned.:67–73:2-7 to 2-8, 3-3 to 3-5, 4-3 to 4-4, B-11 to B-18, figs 2.5–2.7, 3.2-3.6, 3.13, 4.8–4.11
The cornerstone was a 24,500-pound (11,100 kg) marble block 2.5 feet (0.76 m) high and 6.5 feet (2.0 m) square with a large hole for a zinc case filled with memorabilia. The hole was covered by a copper plate inscribed with the date of the Declaration of Independence (July 4, 1776), the date the cornerstone was laid (July 4, 1848), and the names of managers of the Washington National Monument Society. The memorabilia in the zinc case included items associated with the monument, the city of Washington, the national government, state governments, benevolent societies, and George Washington, plus miscellaneous publications, both governmental and commercial, a coin set, and a bible, totaling 73 items or collections of items, as well as 71 newspapers containing articles relating to George Washington or the monument.:app C:pp 43–46, 109–166
The ceremony began with a parade of dignitaries in carriages, marching troops, fire companies, and benevolent societies.:chp 2:44–48:16–17, 45–47 A two-hour oration was delivered by the Speaker of the House of Representatives Robert C. Winthrop.:113–130 Then, the cornerstone was pronounced sound after a Masonic ceremony using George Washington's Masonic gavel, apron and sash, as well as other Masonic symbols. In attendance were Mrs. Alexander Hamilton, Mrs. Dolley Madison, Mrs. John Quincy Adams, and George Washington Parke Custis, among 15,000 to 20,000 others, including a bald eagle. The ceremony ended with fireworks that evening.
Memorial stones
Photo of the Washington Monument Memorial Stone from Utah (State of Deseret)
Memorial stone from Utah representing the former State of Deseret
States, cities, foreign countries, benevolent societies, other organizations, and individuals have contributed 194 memorial stones, all inserted into the east and west interior walls above stair landings or levels for easy viewing, except one on the south interior wall between stairs that is difficult to view. The sources disagree on the number of stones for two reasons: Whether one or both height stones are included, and stones not yet on display at the time of a source's publication cannot be included. During the first phase of construction a stone with an inscription that includes the phrase "from the foundation to this height 100 feet" was installed just below the 80–90-foot stairway and high above the 60–70-foot stairway.:sheet 25:52 During the second phase of construction a stone with a horizontal line and the phrase "top of statue on Capitol" was installed on the 330-foot level.:sheet 30
The Historic Structure Report (HSR, 2004) named 194 "memorial stones" by level, including both height stones.:4-17 to 4-20, 5-6, "194" on 4-17 Jacob (2005) described in detail and pictured 193 "commemorative stones", including the 100-foot stone but not the Capitol stone.:"193" on 1 The Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS, 1994) showed the location of 193 "memorial stones", but did not describe or name any. HABS showed both height stones, but did not show one stone not yet installed in 1994. :sheets 22–25, 28–30 Olszewski (1971) named 190 "memorial stones" by level, including the Capitol stone but not the 100-foot stone. Olszewski did not include three stones not yet installed in 1971.:chp 6, app D, "190" in chp 6
Of 194 stones, 95 are marble, 41 are granite, 30 are limestone, 9 are sandstone, with 19 miscellaneous types, including combinations of the aforesaid and those whose materials are not identified. Unusual materials include native copper (Michigan),:147 petrified wood (Arizona),:213 and jade (Alaska).:220 The stones vary in size from about 1.5 feet (0.46 m) square (Carthage)[n 4] to about 6 feet (1.8 m) by 8 feet (2.4 m) (Philadelphia and New York City).:3, 90, 124, 218
Utah contributed one stone as a territory and another as a state, both with inscriptions that include its pre-territorial name, Deseret, both located on the 220-foot level.:154–155
A stone at the 240-foot level of the monument is inscribed in Welsh: Fy iaith, fy ngwlad, fy nghenedl Cymru – Cymru am byth (My language, my land, my nation of Wales – Wales for ever). The stone, imported from Wales, was donated by Welsh citizens of New York. Two other stones presented by the Sunday Schools of the Methodist Episcopal Church in New York and from the Sabbath School children of the Methodist Episcopal Church in Philadelphia, quote the Bible verses Proverbs 10:7, Proverbs 22:6, and Luke 17:6.
Another inscription, this one sent by the Ottoman government,:128 combines the works of two eminent calligraphers: an imperial tughra by Mustafa Rakım's student Haşim Efendi, and an inscription in jalī ta'līq script by Kadıasker Mustafa İzzet Efendi, the calligrapher who wrote the giant medallions at Hagia Sophia in Istanbul.
One stone was donated by the Ryukyu Kingdom and brought back by Commodore Matthew C. Perry, but never arrived in Washington (it was replaced in 1989).:210 Many of the stones donated for the monument carried inscriptions which did not commemorate George Washington. For example, one from the Templars of Honor and Temperance stated "We will not make, buy, sell, or use as a beverage, any spiritous or malt liquors, Wine, Cider, or any other Alcoholic Liquor.
from Wikipedia
El-Jazzar Mosque - Akko, Israel
"The el-Jazzar Mosque was the project of its namesake, Ahmad Pasha el-Jazzar, the Acre-based governor of the Sidon and Damascus provinces, who was equally famous for his cruelty, impressive public works, and defeat of Napoleon Bonaparte at the Siege of Acre in 1799. El-Jazzar ordered the mosque's construction in 1781 and had it completed within the year. Despite lacking architectural training, el-Jazzar was the architect of the mosque, drawing up its plans and design, and supervising its entire construction. In addition to the mosque itself, the complex included an Islamic theological academy with student lodging, an Islamic court and a public library. The mosque was built for religious purposes, but its grandiose size and additional functions were also intended by el-Jazzar to serve as a means of consolidating his political legitimacy as ruler of Syria. He modeled the mosque on the mosques of Istanbul, the Ottoman capital.
The el-Jazzar Mosque was built over former Muslim and Christian prayer houses and other Crusader buildings. Building materials for the mosque, particularly its marble and granite components, were taken from the ancient ruins of Caesarea, Atlit and medieval Acre. El-Jazzar commissioned several Greek masons as the mosque's builders. There is a tughra or monogram on a marble disc inside the gate, naming the ruling Sultan, his father, and bearing the legend "ever-victorious".
Adjacent to the mosque is a mausoleum and small graveyard containing the tombs of Jazzar Pasha and his adoptive son and successor, Sulayman Pasha, and their relatives."
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/El-Jazzar_Mosque
AIMG_4424
The Washington Monument is an obelisk on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., built to commemorate George Washington, once commander-in-chief of the Continental Army and the first American president. Standing almost due east of the Reflecting Pool and the Lincoln Memorial, the monument, made of marble, granite, and bluestone gneiss, is both the world's tallest stone structure and the world's tallest obelisk, standing 554 feet 7 11⁄32 inches (169.046 m) tall.[n 1] It is the tallest monumental column in the world if all are measured above their pedestrian entrances, but two are taller when measured above ground, although the latter are neither all stone nor true obelisks.[n 2]
Construction of the monument began in 1848, and was halted from 1854 to 1877 due to a lack of funds, a struggle for control over the Washington National Monument Society, and the intervention of the American Civil War. Although the stone structure was completed in 1884, internal ironwork, the knoll, and other finishing touches were not completed until 1888. A difference in shading of the marble, visible approximately 150 feet (46 m) or 27% up, shows where construction was halted. Its original design was by Robert Mills, an architect of the 1840s, but he suspended his colonnade, proceeding only with his obelisk, whose flat top was altered to a pointed pyramidion in 1879. The cornerstone was laid on July 4, 1848; the first stone at the 152-foot level was laid August 7, 1880, the capstone was set on December 6, 1884, and the completed monument was dedicated on February 21, 1885. It officially opened October 9, 1888. Upon completion, it became the world's tallest structure, a title previously held by the Cologne Cathedral. The monument held this designation until 1889, when the Eiffel Tower was completed in Paris, France.
The monument was damaged during the 2011 Virginia earthquake and Hurricane Irene in the same year and remained closed to the public while the structure was assessed and repaired. After 32 months of repairs, the National Park Service and the Trust for the National Mall reopened the Washington Monument to visitors on May 12, 2014.
Rationale
Hailed as the father of his country, and as the leader who was "first in war, first in peace, and first in the hearts of his countrymen," George Washington (1732–1799) was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1798. Even his erstwhile enemy King George III called him "the greatest character of the age."
At his death in 1799 he left a critical legacy; he exemplified the core ideals of the American Revolution and the new nation: republican virtue and devotion to civic duty. Washington was the unchallenged public icon of American military and civic patriotism. He was also identified with the Federalist Party, which lost control of the national government in 1800 to the Jeffersonian Republicans, who were reluctant to celebrate the hero of the opposition party.
Proposals for a memorial
Starting with victory in the Revolution, there were many proposals to build a monument to Washington. After his death, Congress authorized a suitable memorial in the national capital, but the decision was reversed when the Democratic-Republican Party (Jeffersonian Republicans) took control of Congress in 1801. The Republicans were dismayed that Washington had become the symbol of the Federalist Party; furthermore the values of Republicanism seemed hostile to the idea of building monuments to powerful men. They also blocked his image on coins or the celebration of his birthday. Further political squabbling, along with the North-South division on the Civil War, blocked the completion of the Washington Monument until the late 19th century. By that time, Washington had the image of a national hero who could be celebrated by both North and South, and memorials to him were no longer controversial.
As early as 1783, the Continental Congress had resolved "That an equestrian statue of George Washington be erected at the place where the residence of Congress shall be established." The proposal called for engraving on the statue which explained it had been erected "in honor of George Washington, the illustrious Commander-in-Chief of the Armies of the United States of America during the war which vindicated and secured their liberty, sovereignty, and independence." Currently, there are two equestrian statues of President Washington in Washington, D.C. One is located in Washington Circle at the intersection of the Foggy Bottom and West End neighborhoods at the north end of the George Washington University, and the other is in the gardens of the National Cathedral.
Ten days after Washington's death, a Congressional committee recommended a different type of monument. John Marshall, a Representative from Virginia (who later became Chief Justice of the Supreme Court) proposed that a tomb be erected within the Capitol. However, a lack of funds, disagreement over what type of memorial would best honor the country's first president, and the Washington family's reluctance to move his body prevented progress on any project.
Design
Progress toward a memorial finally began in 1832. That year, which marked the 100th anniversary of Washington's birth, a large group of concerned citizens formed the Washington National Monument Society. In 1836, after they had raised $28,000 in donations ($16,500,000 in 2013), they announced a competition for the design of the memorial.:chp 1
On September 23, 1835, the board of managers of the society described their expectations:
It is proposed that the contemplated monument shall be like him in whose honor it is to be constructed, unparalleled in the world, and commensurate with the gratitude, liberality, and patriotism of the people by whom it is to be erected ... [It] should blend stupendousness with elegance, and be of such magnitude and beauty as to be an object of pride to the American people, and of admiration to all who see it. Its material is intended to be wholly American, and to be of marble and granite brought from each state, that each state may participate in the glory of contributing material as well as in funds to its construction.
The society held a competition for designs in 1836. The winner was architect Robert Mills. The citizens of Baltimore had chosen him to build a monument to Washington, and he had designed a tall Greek column surmounted by a statue of the President. Mills also knew the capital well, having just been chosen Architect of Public Buildings for Washington. His design called for a tall obelisk—an upright, four-sided pillar that tapers as it rises—with a nearly flat top. He surrounded the obelisk with a circular colonnade, the top of which would feature Washington standing in a chariot. Inside the colonnade would be statues of 30 prominent Revolutionary War heroes.
One part of Mills' elaborate design that was built was the doorway surmounted by an Egyptian-style Winged sun. It was removed in 1885, after the monument was dedicated. A photo can be seen in The Egyptian Revival by Richard G. Carrot.
Criticism of Mills' design and its estimated price tag of more than $1 million ($589,100,000 in 2013) caused the society to hesitate. Its members decided to start building the obelisk, and to leave the question of the colonnade for later. They believed that if they used the $87,000 they had already collected to start work, the appearance of the monument would spur further donations that would allow them to complete the project.
Construction
Excavation
In early 1848, workers started to build the Washington Monument's foundation. On July 4, 1848, the Freemasons, an organization to which Washington belonged, laid the cornerstone. According to one bystander:
No more Washingtons shall come in our time ... But his virtues are stamped on the heart of mankind. He who is great in the battlefield looks upward to the generalship of Washington. He who grows wise in counsel feels that he is imitating Washington. He who can resign power against the wishes of a people, has in his eye the bright example of Washington
Cornerstone
The cornerstone was laid with great ceremony at the northeast corner of the lowest course or step of the old foundation on July 4, 1848. Robert Mills, the architect of the monument, stated in September 1848, "The foundations are now brought up nearly to the surface of the ground; the second step being nearly completed, which covers up the corner stone.":20 Therefore, the cornerstone was laid below the 1848 ground level. In 1880, the ground level was raised 17 feet (5.2 m) to the base of the shaft by the addition of a 30-foot (9.1 m) wide earthen embankment encircling the reinforced foundation, widened another 30 feet in 1881, and then the knoll was constructed in 1887–88.:70, 95–96:B-36 to B-39 If the cornerstone was not moved during the strengthening of the foundation in 1879–80, its upper surface would now be 21 feet (6.4 m) below the pavement just outside the northeast corner of the shaft. It would now be sandwiched between the concrete slab under the old foundation and the concrete buttress completely encircling what remains of the old foundation. During the strengthening process, about half (by volume) of the periphery of the lowest seven of eight courses or steps of the old foundation (gneiss slabs) was removed to provide good footing for the buttress. Although a few diagrams, pictures and descriptions of this process exist, the fate of the cornerstone is not mentioned.:67–73:2-7 to 2-8, 3-3 to 3-5, 4-3 to 4-4, B-11 to B-18, figs 2.5–2.7, 3.2-3.6, 3.13, 4.8–4.11
The cornerstone was a 24,500-pound (11,100 kg) marble block 2.5 feet (0.76 m) high and 6.5 feet (2.0 m) square with a large hole for a zinc case filled with memorabilia. The hole was covered by a copper plate inscribed with the date of the Declaration of Independence (July 4, 1776), the date the cornerstone was laid (July 4, 1848), and the names of managers of the Washington National Monument Society. The memorabilia in the zinc case included items associated with the monument, the city of Washington, the national government, state governments, benevolent societies, and George Washington, plus miscellaneous publications, both governmental and commercial, a coin set, and a bible, totaling 73 items or collections of items, as well as 71 newspapers containing articles relating to George Washington or the monument.:app C:pp 43–46, 109–166
The ceremony began with a parade of dignitaries in carriages, marching troops, fire companies, and benevolent societies.:chp 2:44–48:16–17, 45–47 A two-hour oration was delivered by the Speaker of the House of Representatives Robert C. Winthrop.:113–130 Then, the cornerstone was pronounced sound after a Masonic ceremony using George Washington's Masonic gavel, apron and sash, as well as other Masonic symbols. In attendance were Mrs. Alexander Hamilton, Mrs. Dolley Madison, Mrs. John Quincy Adams, and George Washington Parke Custis, among 15,000 to 20,000 others, including a bald eagle. The ceremony ended with fireworks that evening.
Memorial stones
Photo of the Washington Monument Memorial Stone from Utah (State of Deseret)
Memorial stone from Utah representing the former State of Deseret
States, cities, foreign countries, benevolent societies, other organizations, and individuals have contributed 194 memorial stones, all inserted into the east and west interior walls above stair landings or levels for easy viewing, except one on the south interior wall between stairs that is difficult to view. The sources disagree on the number of stones for two reasons: Whether one or both height stones are included, and stones not yet on display at the time of a source's publication cannot be included. During the first phase of construction a stone with an inscription that includes the phrase "from the foundation to this height 100 feet" was installed just below the 80–90-foot stairway and high above the 60–70-foot stairway.:sheet 25:52 During the second phase of construction a stone with a horizontal line and the phrase "top of statue on Capitol" was installed on the 330-foot level.:sheet 30
The Historic Structure Report (HSR, 2004) named 194 "memorial stones" by level, including both height stones.:4-17 to 4-20, 5-6, "194" on 4-17 Jacob (2005) described in detail and pictured 193 "commemorative stones", including the 100-foot stone but not the Capitol stone.:"193" on 1 The Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS, 1994) showed the location of 193 "memorial stones", but did not describe or name any. HABS showed both height stones, but did not show one stone not yet installed in 1994. :sheets 22–25, 28–30 Olszewski (1971) named 190 "memorial stones" by level, including the Capitol stone but not the 100-foot stone. Olszewski did not include three stones not yet installed in 1971.:chp 6, app D, "190" in chp 6
Of 194 stones, 95 are marble, 41 are granite, 30 are limestone, 9 are sandstone, with 19 miscellaneous types, including combinations of the aforesaid and those whose materials are not identified. Unusual materials include native copper (Michigan),:147 petrified wood (Arizona),:213 and jade (Alaska).:220 The stones vary in size from about 1.5 feet (0.46 m) square (Carthage)[n 4] to about 6 feet (1.8 m) by 8 feet (2.4 m) (Philadelphia and New York City).:3, 90, 124, 218
Utah contributed one stone as a territory and another as a state, both with inscriptions that include its pre-territorial name, Deseret, both located on the 220-foot level.:154–155
A stone at the 240-foot level of the monument is inscribed in Welsh: Fy iaith, fy ngwlad, fy nghenedl Cymru – Cymru am byth (My language, my land, my nation of Wales – Wales for ever). The stone, imported from Wales, was donated by Welsh citizens of New York. Two other stones presented by the Sunday Schools of the Methodist Episcopal Church in New York and from the Sabbath School children of the Methodist Episcopal Church in Philadelphia, quote the Bible verses Proverbs 10:7, Proverbs 22:6, and Luke 17:6.
Another inscription, this one sent by the Ottoman government,:128 combines the works of two eminent calligraphers: an imperial tughra by Mustafa Rakım's student Haşim Efendi, and an inscription in jalī ta'līq script by Kadıasker Mustafa İzzet Efendi, the calligrapher who wrote the giant medallions at Hagia Sophia in Istanbul.
One stone was donated by the Ryukyu Kingdom and brought back by Commodore Matthew C. Perry, but never arrived in Washington (it was replaced in 1989).:210 Many of the stones donated for the monument carried inscriptions which did not commemorate George Washington. For example, one from the Templars of Honor and Temperance stated "We will not make, buy, sell, or use as a beverage, any spiritous or malt liquors, Wine, Cider, or any other Alcoholic Liquor.":140
from Wikipedia
Ottoman golden calligraphic embroidery work of Sultan's seal. Private collection.
The main entrance gate of the Topkapi Palace is the first glimpse a visitor gets of the size and magnificence that awaits. The main street leading to the palace is the Byzantine processional Mese avenue, today Divan Yolu (Street of the Council). The Mese was used for imperial processions during the Byzantine and Ottoman era. It leads directly to the Hagia Sophia and takes a turn northwest towards the palace square where the landmark Fountain of Ahmed III stands. This massive gate, originally dating from 1478, is now covered in 19th-century marble. The massiveness of this stone gate accentuates its defensive character. Its central arch leads to a high-domed passage. Gilded Ottoman calligraphy adorns the structure at the top, with verses from the Qur'an and tughras of the sultans. ]
One of the inscriptions at the gate proclaims:
By the Grace of God, and by His approval, the foundations of this auspicious castle were laid, and its parts were solidly joined together to strengthen peace and tranquility [...] May God make eternal his empire, and exalt his residence above the most lucid stars of the firmament.
On each side of the hall are rooms for the guard. The gate was open from morning prayer until the last evening prayer.
The Imperial Gate is the main entrance into the First Courtyard. The four courtyards lead to each other and during the Ottoman Empire, each became steadily more exclusive leading to the Fourth Courtyard, which was the sultan's private courtyard.
English:
It was constructed to commemorate the second anniversary of German Emperor Wilhelm II's visit to Istanbul in 1898. It was built in Germany, then transported piece by piece and assembled in its current site in 1900. The neo-Byzantine style fountain's octagonal dome has eight marble columns, and dome's interior is covered with golden mosaics.
The fountain's central reservoir stands on a mosaic-tiled platform and surmounted with the bronze dome, which is raised on carved marble arches.[6] There are eight monograms in the arch stonework and they represent the political union of Abdülhamid II and Wilhelm.[7] In four of these medallions, Abdülhamid II's tughra is written on green background, and in other four Wilhelm's symbol "W" is written on a Prussian blue background. Also, over "W" there is a crown and below it a "II" is written.
Deutsch:
Der Brunnen wurde im Jahre 1900 im Andenken an den Besuch des deutschen Kaisers Wilhelm II. in Istanbul im Jahre 1898 errichtet. Er wurde in Deutschland hergestellt und in einzelnen Teilen nach Istanbul verschickt, um dort an seinem heutigen Ort zusammengesetzt zu werden. Die neobyzantinische achteckige Kuppel wird von acht Marmorsäulen getragen. Das Innere der Kuppel ist mit goldenen Mosaiken versehen.
Während seiner Regierungszeit stattete Wilhelm II., deutscher Kaiser und König von Preußen, mehreren Ländern Europas und des nahen Ostens einen Besuch ab. Seine Reise begann am 18. Oktober 1898 in Istanbul, der Hauptstadt des Osmanischen Reichs unter Sultan Abdülhamid II.. Zur Erinnerung an den Besuch gab die deutsche Reichsregierung den Bau des Brunnens in Auftrag. Am Entwurf und Bau des Brunnens waren die deutschen Architekten Max Spitta, Schoele und Carlitzik sowie der Italiener Joseph Anthony beteiligt.
Die Innenseite ist mit einem goldenen Mosaik versehen. Acht über den Säulenenden eingearbeitete Medaillons zeigen abwechselnd jeweils viermal die Tughra Abdülhamids II. sowie das Monogramm Wilhelms II.
This quite large Kutahya piece was made to allow roasted coffee beans to lose an unpleasant odour before grinding. It uses designs inspired by the fritware made some 300 years earlier in Iznik.
The inscription is in Turkish, as written in the Arabic script prior to the 1920s.
The Pera Museum in Istanbul has recently acquired two of these, dating from the early 20th century. They have very different decorations, suggesting that they were made to order. see:
blog.peramuzesi.org.tr/en/sergiler/pera-muzesi-kahve-mola...
This stamp was in the tatty 'Swiftsure' album of my schoolboy days. I was really proud of myself to have identified it as Turkish, by the Sultan's tughra at the centre, and mounted it on the page with the other three Turkish stamps.
It seems I was wrong. It is one of only five stamps listed by Stanley Gibbons from Thessaly, issued during the Turkish occupation during the Graeco-Turkish war of 1898. The tughra is that of Abdulhamid II.
There isn't a page for Thessaly, so I'll leave it where it was.
The sultan would enter the palace through the Imperial Gate (Turkish: Bâb-ı Hümâyûn or Latin: Porta Augusta), also known as Gate of the Sultan (Turkish: Saltanat Kapısı) located to the south of the palace. This massive gate, originally dating from 1478, is now covered in 19th-century marble. The massiveness of this stone gate accentuates its defensive character. Its central arch leads to a high-domed passage. Gilded Ottoman calligraphy adorns the structure at the top, with verses from the Qur'an and tughras of the sultans. Identified tughras are of Sultan Mehmed II and Abdül Aziz I, who renovated the gate.
One of the inscriptions at the gate proclaims: By the Grace of God, and by His approval, the foundations of this auspicious castle were laid, and its parts were solidly joined together to strengthen peace and tranquility ... May God make eternal his empire, and exalt his residence above the most lucid stars of the firmament.
On each side of the hall are rooms for the guard. The gate was open from morning prayer until the last evening prayer.
According to old documents, there was a wooden apartment above the gate area until the second half of the 19th century. It was used first as a pavilion by Mehmed, later as a depository for the properties of those who died inside the palace without heirs and eventually as the receiving department of the treasury. It was also used as a vantage point for the ladies of the harem on special occasions.
The Imperial Gate is the main entrance into the First Courtyard. The four courtyards lead to each other and during the Ottoman Empire, each became steadily more exclusive leading to the Fourth Courtyard, which was the sultan's private courtyard.
April 2012
Dolmabahçe Palace was commissioned by Sultan Abdülmecit to the famous architects of the period Garabet Amira Balyan and his son Niğogos Balyan. It was designed in a variety of European architectural styles and built between 1843 and 1855. The palace entrances balance each facade, comprising two heavily ornamented, monumental doors leading to the sea and also to the road. The Treasury Door on the sea side, faces the Dolmabahçe Mosque and the Clock Tower. It was used by the guests of the Sultan and resembles a Roman triumphal arch with its ternary structure. The door is embellished with the tughra of Sultan Abdülmecit, dated 1853, and the epigraph of the poet Ziver, dated 1857.
SALT Research, Ali Saim Ülgen Archive
Sultan Abdülmecit tarafından dönemin ünlü mimarları Garabet Amira Balyan ve oğlu Niğogos Balyan’a yaptırılan Dolmabahçe Sarayı Avrupa mimari üsluplarına sahiptir. 1843-1855 yıllarında inşa edilen sarayın kara ve deniz tarafında, anıtsal nitelikle iki heybetli kapı vardır. Deniz tarafında bulunan ve Dolmabahçe Camii ile Saat Kulesi’ne bakan Hazine Kapısı, Hazine-i Hassa ile Mefruşat Dairesi arasında konumlanmıştır. Üçlü kemer sistemiyle Roma taklarını andıran ve döneminde sultanın ziyaretçileri tarafından kullanılan kapıda, Abdülmecit’in 1853 tarihli tuğrası ile Şair Ziver’in 1857 tarihli yazıtı yer alır.
SALT Araştırma, Ali Saim Ülgen Arşivi
Repository: SALT Research
Rights Info: This material can be used under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0) license.
Photo © Tristan Savatier - All Rights Reserved - License this photo on www.loupiote.com/18431164
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Inscription - Shumen historical mosque (Bulgaria)
That is the seal of Ottoman Empires. It is neither completely Arabic, nor Persian, It is a combined language called "Osmanlica" in Turkiye, meaning something like Ottomanic.
This tughra must be Selim III's. The mosque in Shumen it is on was built in 1740-1744, and the only Ottoman sultan called Selim after that date was Selim III, who ruled from 1789-1807. The tughra's got more complicated as the years went on, the first, from the 14th century, were relatively simple. Apart from the sultan's name much of the calligraphy is symbolic and not words as such. For example, the two lines reaching out to the right are symbols for swords, and thus the military power of the sultan.
(I must give credit to Renal and Graham Spicer for the information about the tughra)
If you like this photo, follow me on instagram (tristan_sf) and don't hesitate to leave a comment or email me.
25 July 2009. Looking for baklava? It's at the bottom of the Tuğra.
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Links
§ The Tuğra (or Tughra) was the calligraphic seal or signature of an Ottoman Sultan. It had two loops on the left side, three vertical lines in the middle, stacked writing on the bottom and two extensions to the right.
§ A website about Tuğras.
§ How do you pronounce the word Tuğra? I'm told a rough approximation is Toorah. (The 'g' is silent.)
Otherwise take a look at this Wikipedia talk page on the topic. The word is a signpost to masterpieces of calligraphy, the history of the Ottoman Empire, and the mutual cultural and linguistic influences of the entire region. But don't let that put you off the blends of pastry, nuts, fruits and honey.
§ Link to BBC 14 minute Podcast about the Tughra of the great Ottoman ruler Suleiman the Magnificent. Broadcast 13 Sept 2010. Neil MacGregor, then Director of the British Museum examined this ultimate expression of Suleiman's authority - a stamp of state and delicate artwork.
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A classical Arabic version of the Quranic verse "In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful". The style used in this artwork is called the "Tugra" and is of Ottoman origin. It is truly exquisite with its flowing lines and beautiful Arabic letter balance lending to one of my most favourite Arabic calligraphy pieces. I digitized an old hand-written piece that I had come across. Its source was unknown. If i'm not mistaken, it was from an old Turkish papyrus artpiece my dad picked up while there a few years ago.
Please feel free to comment. I enjoy constructive criticism also!
********************** MTK DIGITAL DESIGN *********************
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ALL ARTWORK CAN BE BOUGHT IN HI-RES .JPG FORMAT (PERFECT FOR POSTER OR CANVAS PRINTS) . ALTERNATELY, ARTWORK CAN BE BOUGHT IN .PSD FORMAT (PHOTOSHOP EDITABLE VERSION).
TRANSACTIONS DONE VIA PAYPAL. YOU WILL RECEIVE ARTWORK VIA EMAIL.
CUSTOM DESIGN WORK WELCOME.
EMAIL FOR ENQUIRIES: mtk007@gmail.com
This is the mihrab where the Imam conducts his prayers in Masjid Agung Surakarta. As seen here, the Tughra, symbol of Islamic Turkey Sultanate, decorates the mihrab with beautiful caligraphy. This shows that the mihrab is a gift from the Sultan of Ottoman Turkey to the King of Surakarta at that time, Pakubuwono X. Although being oppressed by the Dutch colonial government, Surakarta was able to maintain sovereignty by building relationship with nations throughout the world.
One of three city gates, Famagusta gate is situated in the Caraffa bastion of the Venetian defense walls. The gate was built in 1567. The side facing the town is decorated with a Tughra (calligraphic monogram) of Sultan Mahmut II. This was added when the gate was restored in 1821.
This, I was told by one of the locals near the Grishneshwar Temple, is the samadhi of Babaji Raje Bhonsale, Chhattrapati Shivajis great grandfather.
The samadhi stands on its own surrounded by litter, garbage and shacks resting on its stones.
A brief history of the Bhonsales.
The Bhonsle (or Bhonsale, Bhosale, Bhosle) are a prominent group within the Maratha clan system. Traditionally a warrior clan, some members served as rulers of several states in India, the most prominent being Shivaji, the founder of the Maratha Empire. His successors ruled as chhatrapatis (emperors/maharajas) from their capital at Satara, although de facto rule of the empire passed to the Peshwas, the Maratha hereditary chief ministers, during the reign of Shahu I. In addition to the Bhonsle Chhatrapatis of Satara, rulers of the Bhonsle clan established themselves as junior branch of Chhatrapatis at Kolhapur, and as Maharajas of Nagpur in modern-day Maharashtra in the 18th century.
After the British defeat of the Marathas in the Third Anglo-Maratha War in 1818, the four Bhonsle dynasties continued as rulers of their princely states, acknowledging British sovereignty while retaining local autonomy. The states of Satara, Thanjavur, and Nagpur came under direct British rule in the mid-nineteenth century when their rulers died without male heirs, although the British allowed titular adoptions to take place. Kolhapur state remained autonomous until India's independence in 1947, when the rulers acceded to the Indian government.
Akkalkot State, Sawantwadi State and Barshi were amongst other prominent states ruled by the Bhonsles.
Bhonsles claim their origin from Suryavanshi Sisodia Rajput. Sources supporting this claim include Pandit Gaga Bhatt of Varanasi, who had been hired for the purpose by Shivaji, and in 1674 presented a genealogy tracing Shivaji's ancestry to the Sisodias of Mewar.
Scholars such as Jadunath Sarkar have contested Shivaji's Rajput origin, saying that it was a fabrication required during his coronation. Others, such as C. V. Vaidya, do not accept this and point to works authored before his rise that refer to the connection. For example, the Radha Madhav Vilas Champu, written by the poet Jayaram, mentions Shahaji Bhonsle, the father of Shivaji, as being a Sisodia Rajput and Shahji's letter to Sultan Adil Shah in 1641 refers to the Bhonsle as Rajputs. The discovery of Persian-language firmans in the 1920s also dented the claim of those such as Sarkar. The documents bear seals and tughra of Bahmani and Adil Shahi sultans and establish the direct descent of Shivaji and Ghorpade with that of Sisodia of Chittor.
Knights, regents and monarchs:
Babaji Bhonsle (d. 1597), father of Maloji Bhonsle who was a patil of the Hingni Berdi and Devalgaon villages around Pune
Maloji Bhonsle (1552–1607), father of Shahaji who served as a knight for the Ahmadnagar Sultanate
Shahaji (1594–1664), father of Shivaji who served as a knight for the Ahmadnagar Sultanate and later the Adilshahi of Bijapur
Shivaji (1630–1680), first Chhatrapati of the Maratha realm
Sambhaji (1657–1689), son of Shivaji and his successor as Chhatrapati
Rajaram Chhatrapati (1670–1700), second son of Shivaji; succeeded Sambhaji as Chhatrapati
Tarabai (1675–1761), commander of Maratha forces after the death of her husband Rajaram in 1700; regent for her son Shivaji II until being deposed by Shahu I and then by her husband's other widow, Rajasbai.
The Clock Tower is situated outside the Dolmabahçe Palace, in front of the main entrance gate (Treasure Gate). The tower was constructed by the Armenian architect Sarkis Balyan between 1890 and 1895 with the order of Ottoman sultan Abdul Hamid II (1842-1918). Designed in Ottoman neo-baroque style, the four-sided, four-story tower stands at a height of 27 m. Its clock was manufactured by the renowned French clockmaker house of Jean-Paul Garnier, and installed by the court clock master Johann Mayer. In 1979, the original mechanical clock was converted partly to an electrical one. On two opposite sides of the tower, the “tughra” (signature) of Sultan Abdul Hamid II is put on.
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Turnul cu ceas se află în exteriorul palatului Dolmabahçe, în faţa întrării principale (Poarta Tezaurului). Turnul a fost construit de arhitectul armean Sarkis Balyan între anii 1890 şi 1895, din ordinal sultanului otoman Abdul Hamid II (1842-1918). Conceput în stil neo-baroc otoman, turnul cu patru laturi şi patru etaje are o înălţime de 27m. Ceasul a fost fabricat de celebra casă Jean-Paul Garnier din Franţa, fiind apoi montat de maestrul ceasornicat al Curţii, Johann Mayer. In 1979, mecanismul ceasului mecanic original a fost partial înlocuit cu o acţionare electrică. Pe două laturi opuse ale turnului se poate observa “tughra” (semnătura) sultanului Abdul Hamid II.
Source: www.dolmabahcepalace.com/listingview.php?listingID=8
The second destination on our tour of Istanbul was the Ayasofya Müzesi, also known as Hagia Sophia (''Divine Wisdom''). The current structure replaced two earlier churches; its construction was ordered by Emperor Justinian I, and it was completed in 537. It originally served as an Orthodox Christian church, but was later converted to a mosque in 1453 during the Ottoman takeover of Constantinople by Sultan Mehmet II, at which time the Christian imagery and artifacts were removed or plastered over. In 1935, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk (founder of the Republic of Turkey and the first president of Turkey) declared the building a museum, wherein both Christian and IslaThe second destination on our tour of Istanbul, Turkey, was the Ayasofya Müzesi, also known as Hagia Sophia (''Divine Wisdom''). The current structure replaced two earlier churches; its construction was ordered by Emperor Justinian I, and it was completed in 537. It originally served as an Orthodox Christian church, but was later converted to a mosque in 1453 during the Ottoman takeover of Constantinople by Sultan Mehmet II, at which time the Christian imagery and artifacts were removed or plastered over. In 1935, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk (founder of the Republic of Turkey and the first president of Turkey) declared the building a museum, wherein both Christian and Islamic elements now coexist.
This shot faces toward the apse and shows the rich details decorating the building's domed ceilings and marble-clad walls. At the center of the frame is the apse mosaic featuring the Virgin Mary and baby Jesus; and flanking the upper walls of the apse are two of the eight huge Islamic calligraphic roundels stationed throughout the building. These two particular roundels represent the Islamic prophet Muhammad (on left) and Allah (on right). Along the lower right you can the elegantly carved upper edge of the Muezzin's Loge.mic elements now coexist.
This shot faces toward the apse and shows the rich details decorating the building's domed ceilings and marble-clad walls. At the center of the frame is the apse mosaic featuring the Virgin Mary and baby Jesus; and flanking the upper walls of the apse are two of the eight huge Islamic calligraphic roundels stationed throughout the building. These two particular roundels represent the Islamic prophet Muhammad (on left) and Allah (on right). Along the lower right you can the elegantly carved upper edge of the Muezzin's Loge.
Jezzar Pasha Mosque is located on al-Jezzar Street, inside the walls of the old city of Acre, overlooking the eastern Mediterranean Sea.
The mosque is an excellent example of Ottoman architecture, which incorporated both Byzantine and Persian styles. Some of its fine features include the green dome and minaret, a green-domed sabil next to its steps (a kiosk for dispensing chilled drinking water and beverages), and a large courtyard.[1]
The mosque was the project of Acre's Ottoman governor in the late 18th century, Ahmed al-Jezzar (the butcher) Pasha, who was equally famous for his cruelty, impressive public works, and for defeating Napoleon at the siege of Acre in 1799. Jezzar Pasha ordered the mosque's construction in 1781 and had it completed within the year; it was built over a former church and other Crusader buildings. There is a tughra or monogram on a marble disc inside the gate, naming the ruling Sultan, his father and the legend "ever-victorious". [wikipedia]