Sinan. The architect of domed mosques as a master of pluralism

Abstract

The Ottoman Empire under Soliman the Magnificent seems to be the symbol of a growing dynamism and of a very remarkable polyvalence. In this atmosphere, Sinan finds himself among various challenges issuing from quite different origins: the Ulucami (Great Mosque) at Bursa, the Ucserefeli at Edirne, both as successful developments of the early Arab mosques, that is, of the multi-pillared oblong; then, the great achievements of the post-conquest period in Istanbul as the Conqueror's (Faith) Mosque or that of Beyazit; and also the most famous Byzantine churches: the Haghia Sophia followed by SS. Sergius and Bachus, the so-called Kucukayasofya (Small Haghia Sophia). Sinan had to compete brilliantly with all those important challenges in order to surpass them.