Nothing But Trouble by brewgirlca
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No AI - This artwork was created entirely by hand or with traditional digital tools.
Description
One of the most distinctive features of the Blue Mosque in Istanbul, in addition to its cascade of domes is the fact that it has six minarets. All other mosques in the world, but one, have either one, two, or four minarets. The number of minarets is very much dependent on the wealth and power of the benefactor who had the mosque constructed.
Being the ruler of the Ottoman Empire, 19 year old Sultan Ahmed I had six minarets constructed for his Blue Mosque. The big problem with this was that the only other mosque in the world to have six minarets was the Harem Mosque in Mecca, the holiest of all mosques. Ooopsy!
This "sacrilege" created a huge uproar amongst the conservative Muslim faithful. The young Sultan deftly handled the problem by sending his architect, Mehmet Aga, to Mecca to construct a seventh minaret on the Harem Mosque.
There is an apologist legend that Ahmed had directed his architect to make gold (altin) minarets, which was misunderstood as six (alti) minarets. This is higly unlikely given that Ahmed had attached himself to the construction crew and it is unimaginable that he would not have noticed that there were six ordinary minerats going up rather than five gold ones! At worst I am sure his treasurers would have quicly picked up on that one! Spin doctors in all ages.

Comments (26)
Great image and cool story/history
your title had me go'n - lol... I looked at the picture and at first I thought that was a camera in the archway, but after further review, I think it is a speaker.... and that is where your title comes in, I can hear the speaker now: "Hey you, Girl with the Brew, GET OFF OF MY LAWN!!!" LOL
Spin at it's finest... Great shot Roxy and some fascinating facts. Thanks for sharing this!
Fantastic capture Roxy!
This is a sensational photo Roxy, and I very much enjoyed the history behind it
I think the ancient Egyptians invented 'spin-doctoring' but there could have been others before them :) Heaven forbid there should be too many minarets! Yes, I would think the sultan would have noticed too. Lol. Lovely image/pov, and great information Roxy! Thanks for sharing.
superb capture on your part
excellent
Fun write up and an inspiring image!
Awesome POV, great image
Great POV. NIce shot.
Fascinating tower & stonework & fine choice of POV. The number of minarets seems like a silly, superstitious thing to obsess about, but then how many modern buildings omit a 13th floor for equally superstitious reasons?
fine shot and info bit.
It's a total awesomeness! Thanks for a great image.
I am delighted about your reasearch coming along with the photographs. It reminds me of my old teacher for ancient Greek, who would teach us grammar and vocabulary spiced up with stories about the ancient Greek culture and myth, always told as if it happened just yesterday an he was there himself. Thank you for reviving this old and fond memory.
Ah smart move on his part lol..Don't want to lose your head over a minaret.
Spectacular
I loved the story of the number of minarets when I heard it from our lovely guide in Istanbul. Minarets are to Istanbul what are churches with huge cupolas in Malta. It seems they had a fight there about which village will have the biggest church.:D Have you been to Malta, Roxy? It's one of my favourite places in the Mediterranean . But I go there for the megalithic temples,not for the churches !:D
Fantastic capture my friend!!!
High, higher, highest.... up in the sky. (And the speakers for the muezzin should not miss). Impressive mosque, class perspective!!
a wonderful angle that shows this building at its very best
Beautiful pict! Roxy-sensei
A great angle on this one, Roxy! Love the photo, and the story is quite interesting as well - spin doctors, indeed! :-D
Very good POV and shot.
Well that's quite an interesting back story. Spin indeed. Excellent angle/POV.
Ah...religion! I hear it's all relative to the size of your...um...minaret. OR steeple...or...tall pointy thing! Anyway...WHAT a wondderful shot! I love the POV and the idea that this looks like, what I called a "god rocket" when I was a child. I always thought that spire shapes on mosques and churches were built along the same line as rocket. I never really thought of why. I guess I just liked rockets! Anyway, this is super! I have to do some serious catching up, and I'll be back, but I saw two photographs here I hadn't seen, and so I had to say something. I see some cool renders too, and I hope to get to at least one of them tomorrow.