Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
arches; in the axes there are four semidomes, while in the diagonals
four smaller semidomes serve as squinches instead of pendentives.
The eastern semidome covers a projecting apse for the mihrab, while
those to north and south also cover projections from the square. The
western corners of the cross so formed are filled with small independent
chambers; above on three sides are galleries. The whole arrangement
is original and masterly; nor are interesting details wanting. In the
corners of the east wall are two charming little kürsüs or platforms,
access to which is gained by staircases built into the thickness of the
wall from the window recesses. In the voussoirs and balustrades of
these platforms, in the window frames, and elsewhere throughout the
mosque, an interesting conglomerate marble of pale violet and grey is
used; and for the columns which support both platforms and galleries
there is another conglomerate marble of tawny brown flecked with
yellow, gray, black and green. The arches of the galleries, like those
of the courtyard, are of the ogive type. As a whole, the mosque is a
masterpiece; it is as if the unknown architect, in the extreme old age
of Sinan, had decided to play variations on themes invented by Sinan
himself and to show that he could do them as well as the Master. In
the little graveyard behind the mosque is the small and unpretentious
türbe of Nişancı Mehmet Paşa.
ÜÇ BAŞ CAMİİ, MEDRESE OF HALİL EFENDİ
Leaving Nişancı Mehmet Paşa Camii and continuing along in
the same direction we soon come to a small square called Üç Baş
Meydanı, literally the Square of the Three Heads. The square takes its
name from Üç Baş Camii, the tiny mosque we see to the right of the
square. Evliya Çelebi tells us that the mosque received this odd name
“because it was built by a barber who shaved three heads for one
small piece of money, and, notwithstanding, grew so rich that he was
enabled to build this mosque; it is small but particularly sanctified.”
A more prosaic explanation is given in the Hadika , a comprehensive
description of the mosques of Istanbul written in 1780; there we learn
that the founder, Nureddin Hamza ben Atallah, came from a village
in Anatolia called Üç Baş. (But then from where did the village get
its name?) An inscription over the gate gives the date of foundation
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