Byzantine Decoration

The sights of Saint Sophia are copper-plated "weeping column" (say that if you put your hand into its hole and make a wish, it will come true), and 'Cold box', which even on the hottest day of blowing a cool breeze. One of the eight columns in the north wing is considered to be miraculous – here, according to legend, Saint George appears. Secretary of Agriculture describes an additional similar source. Mosque Ahmed ('Blue Mosque') – built during the ruling of Ahmed I (1609 – 1616 gg.) in place of the palace of the Byzantine emperor, fragments of the mosaic is stored now in the Museum of Mosaics. The most important feature of this mosque is that, unlike traditional mosques in Istanbul and throughout Turkey, is the only mosque with six minarets. In the corners of the mosque and minaret built in the courtyard balconies, Seref.

Four minarets have three, while the remaining two balconies, with which the muezzin calls to prayer. In total there are 16 Seref. The very name of the mosque 'Blue Mosque', common in the world, originates from the blue and green colors of Turkish pottery, which was used in decoration and the decoration of the walls of the mosque and its dome-Suleymaniye Jami (mosque of Sultan Suleiman) – the largest mosque in Istanbul (holds up to 10 thousand people), built in 1550-1557 years. by order of the sultan – Suleiman the Magnificent. Suleymaniye Jami, built on top of a hill and is located above the Golden Horn. The mosque is surrounded by cypress and plane trees, that does not stop to see the purity of its architectural style and harmony of the contours of the building.