Sinan Pasha Mosque
The Sinan Pasha Mosque is a historical landmark of the Beşiktaş district, located on the crossing block between Barbaros Avenue and Beşiktaş Street in Istanbul. The Sinan Pasha Mosque is also located across the Beşiktaş Ferry Station and Barbaros Park. Because of its’ location the neighbourhood of Sinanpaşa, in the Beşiktaş district, was named after the mosque. Moreover, the mosque is a centrepiece landmark in Beşiktaş Square.
The mosque was built in 1553 and it is one of the most important works of Architect Sinan. Architect Sinan was commissioned by Sinan Pasha for the construction of the mosque. During Sultan Suleiman’s reign, Sinan Pasha was the chief admiral of the Ottoman Empire. He was Rüstem Pasha’s brother. During those years Rüstem Pasha was a notable statesman, the Grand Vizier of Suleiman the 1st and also the wife of Suleiman’s daughter, Mihrimah Sultan. Therefore, Sinan Pasha was related to the Ottoman Dynasty by relationship affinity. Indeed, Sinan Pasha was born in Bosnia-Herzegovina as a Croat-origin Christian family’s son. He grew up in the Enderun (a special school in the Ottoman Palace which has a purpose of raising statesmen for the Ottoman Empire). Afterwards, he took charge in the navy as the chief admiral of Ottoman Empire between the years 1550 and 1553. Although the Sinan Pasha Mosque was in the construction phase, Sinan Pasha couldn’t see its inauguration day as he died before the completion of construction. Therefore, he was buried in the Mihrimah Sultan Mosque in Üsküdar. Despite having two daughters and a son, Sinan Pasha made an interesting decision and he left his entire legacy to Mihrimah Sultan instead of his daughters and son.
The Sinan Pasha Mosque is rectangular in shape and consists of only one minaret with a single balcony. Six-cornered columns and two accessory domes on both sides of the mosque support the centrally located primary dome of the roof. The column heads and marble wainscots are one of the most beautiful examples of Ottoman Craftsmanship during the period of the 16th century. Marble wainscots are frequently used, especially on the roof of the ablution fountain of the mosque, in order to prevent the pollution of water in the fountain. Unfortunately, the Sultan’s Loge in the Sinan Pasha Mosque collapsed. In addition to the loge, the Sinan Pasha Bathhouse, which was an outbuilding of the mosque, also collapsed. The walls of the Sinan Pasha Mosque is made up of red bricks and cut stone. There are also two entrance doors in the courtyard of the Mosque. The Ablution fountain can be located in courtyard and it consists of four marble columns which hold the roof. Since its’ foundation, the Sinan Pasha Mosque was repaired several times. Therefore, the courtyard and the mosque itself slightly lost its originality.