The Eyup Sultan Mosque, where Ottoman sultans held their sword-wearing ceremonies after ascending to the throne, stands among the city’s iconic structures with its deep-rooted history and spiritual atmosphere that extends to the present day, reports Anadolu.

The mosque was built in 1458-1459 after the liberation of Istanbul. Severely damaged in the 1766 earthquake, the structure underwent extensive repairs during the reign of Sultan Selim III. According to historical records, as a result of works started in 1798, the mosque was razed to the ground and rebuilt, reopening for worship in 1800.

While the classical Ottoman tradition was preserved in the rebuilt mosque, the baroque influences of the period are also reflected in the architecture. The mosque, which has an eight-buttress plan, has a 16-meter-diameter dome in the center.

The complex that includes the mosque also contains a madrasa (religious school), a kitchen for the poor, an almshouse, a hammam, and a turbe.

In the courtyard, the fountain built by Sultan Ahmed I in 1613 stands out for its marble work and the details that reflect the classical style.

The tomb of Abu Ayyub al-Ansari, next to the mosque, is known for its great importance among the people, and it is believed that the Ottoman sultans held their sword ceremonies here.

The tomb, which reflects the architecture of the classical period with its octagonal plan, dome and tiled walls, has a silver mesh around the sarcophagus commissioned by Sultan Selim III. The mausoleum also contains plaques written by sultans and calligraphers.

Supported by endowment funds throughout Ottoman history for the recitation of the Mevlud (a poem praising the Prophet Muhammad) on holy nights and blessed days, the Mosque and Mausoleum of Eyup Sultan became a center not only of architecture, but also of religious and cultural continuity.

The mosque remains one of the most visited and most powerful of Istanbul, serving as a place of worship.

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Source: prizrenpost