The mosque is part of a kulliye ordered by Zal Mahmud Pasha, one of the
viziers of Selim II. The complex is masterfully planned on a sloping site,
with two separate levels linked bya flight of stairs. Themosque and a medrese
are situated on the higher level, while the lower part consists of another
medrese and a tomb. The com- position is more organic than symmetric. Due to the
slope, the mosque has a vaulted basement It also has a beautiful view over the
With this mosque, Sinan tried out effects quite opposite to the ones observed
in usual mosque designs. Wide galleries situated on three sides reach as high as
the arches carrying the dome. While in
most of Sinan's mosques the main arches are filled in with a windowed wall or
topped with a semidome, here, except for the kiblah (southern) wall, the arches
stand naked, opening onto the galleries. This weakens the effect of the dome,
the on space widening on three sides, while the thickness of the arches,
unhidden by a windowed wall, is left apparent. Indeed, the galleries, spreading
as far in as to reach the arches and reaching the height of their springing
line, cause the dome to lose some of the effect of its height and it seems to
lower itself closer to human reach.
Contrary to the case of the Edirnekapi Mihrimah Mosque, the roofs of the
galleries are high enough to reach up to the drum of the dome. With the light
coming through the three rows of numerous windows of the outer walls, the upper
galleries especially turn out to be better lit than the middle ground. This is
very different from the usual contrast, where the central area receives more
light than the sides. On the kiblah (Mecca facing) front, the main arches are
hidden in the wall, while they stand on two rounded piers on the entrance side.
The southern wall looks like a partition wall pierced with windows all the way
to the ground, while on the other side, the arch piers are covered with the
galleries. As a result, the dome seems to be hanging in space. Together with its
basement floor, the mosque rises on three sides like some lofty prismatic
structure. We do not find here the pyramidal effect seen in Sinan's grand
In order to diminish the weight of the mosque's whole mass, the side walls
especially have been pierced with numerous windows, which gives them a
quasi-palatial aspect, while the facades are made of alternate rows of stone
and brick. In spite of its few contradictions, the Zal Mahmud Mosque remains a
highly original experiment that owes nothing to previous schemes.
Above text and pictures are from the book titled "Turkish Art and Architecture in Anatolia and Mimar Sinan".
You can purchase "Turkish Art and Architecture in Anatolia and Mimar Sinan" book and other Turkey related books from Explore Turkey Bookstore.