Tabriz’s mosque, which takes its name from its unique blue tiles: Gök Masjid
Although it seems like there is no trace of its former glory from the outside, the traces of the dome style and fine workmanship somehow show how beautiful the mosque was in its time. The blue, yellow, black and white tile work and spiral-style corner decorations around the main entrance door of the mosque, which attracts attention with its height, as well as the Qur’anic verses engraved on the facade, stand as proof of this beauty.
IT TAKES ITS NAME FROM ITS BLUE TILES
Mina Rencber, an expert at the Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts, said that the mosque is also known as „Cihan Shah Masjid“ or „Muzafferiye“. Rencber stated that the mosque built by the Karakoyunlu Sultan Cihan Shah in 1465 for his daughter Begüm Hatun was known as „Masjid-i Kebud“ among the public because of its blue tiles, and that the word „kebud“ means „sky color“, that is, „blue“.
The remaining fragments of the verses written in Nestalic calligraphy on the dome circle, arches and niches of the mosque, whose tiles were used from the lightest to the darkest shade of blue, reveal the magnificence of this building in its period. Rencber stated that gold was used in some parts of the turquoise colored kasikari works, which made this structure one step ahead of other historical works.
Pointing out that most of the tile decorations, starting from the high entrance gate in the form of a half-dome, were destroyed over time, Rencber said that some of these tiles were repaired in accordance with the original, and the remaining original pieces bear witness to their period.
IT SUFFERED GREAT DESTRUCTION IN THE EARTHQUAKE
Rencber stated that the mosque suffered great destruction in the earthquake that occurred about two hundred years ago and that most of it was reconstructed and the 21-meter high dome was built in accordance with the original. Noting that the 3-meter-high marble slabs on the qibla side were used when the mosque was built, Rencber said that the dark-colored ones were old and the light-colored ones were placed here within the framework of restorations.
HE TOOK GREAT SELJUK ARCHITECTURE ONE STEP FORWARD
Rencber stated that Gök Masjid takes the Great Seljuk architecture one step further and provides a connection with Anatolian architecture, and that the connection between the domes resembles the early buildings in Ottoman architecture.
Stating that the large and slightly rising main dome of the Gök Masjid is surrounded by lower domed spaces on three sides, Rencber said that there are 4 graves in the tomb section under the dome on the qibla side, and the graves are empty.
On the other hand, in open sources, it is stated that the mosque, which was left unfinished when Akkoyunlu Ruler Uzun Hasan entered Tabriz by killing Cihan Shah and ending the Karakoyunlu sultanate in 1467, was later built by his wife and daughter Saliha during the reign of Uzun Hasan’s son, Ebu Muzaffer Yakub Bahadır Khan. It is rumored that it was completed as a result of Hatun’s efforts.
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The mosque of Tabriz, also known as Gök Masjid or Masjid-i Kebud, is a historical mosque known for its beautiful blue tiles and fine workmanship. Built in 1465 by Karakoyunlu Sultan Cihan Shah for his daughter Begüm Hatun, the mosque is a testament to the grandeur of its time. The blue, yellow, black, and white tile work, as well as the spiral-style corner decorations and Qur’anic verses engraved on the facade, showcase the mosque’s former beauty.
Despite suffering great destruction in an earthquake about two hundred years ago, the mosque has been reconstructed and restored. The 21-meter high dome was rebuilt in accordance with the original, and the remaining original tile pieces bear witness to their period.
Mina Rencber, an expert at the Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts, pointed out that Gök Masjid takes the Great Seljuk architecture one step further and provides a connection with Anatolian architecture. The mosque’s large and slightly rising main dome is surrounded by lower domed spaces on three sides, with a tomb section under the dome on the qibla side.
Although the mosque was left unfinished when Akkoyunlu Ruler Uzun Hasan entered Tabriz, it is rumored that it was completed as a result of efforts by Sultan Cihan Shah’s wife and daughter during the reign of Uzun Hasan’s son, Ebu Muzaffer Yakub Bahadır Khan. Despite its turbulent history, the beauty and historical significance of the mosque of Tabriz continue to captivate visitors.
