Yeşil Türbe

Bursa, Türkiye

The mausoleum occupies one of the highest points in the complex, which is itself situated on a hillside overlooking the surrounding terrain. The building is a domed octagon and is decorated on the exterior with blueish-green tiles. These tiles are contemporary and replace tiles that were shaken off the building during the earthquake of 1855/1280 AH. The entry portal is on the north face of the building, and is crowned with an umbrella vault. Two benches line the entrance and are surmounted by muqarnas hoods.  Iznik tiles with flower patterns in blue, white and yellow adorn the portal. 

The interior is a large chamber. A cenotaph stands on a platform at the center surrounded by seven other tombs. The walls of the interior are richly decorated with scriptures and flower designs painted in yellow, white and blue glazed tiles. The lower section of walls is lined with blue-green tiles, also used in tympana of windows on the interior. The qibla wall of the mausoleum has a large mihrab similar to that in the Yeşil Cami. It consists of a niche with a muqarnas hood set in a large frame of ornamental tilework and tile mosaic. A pinnacle made of tile mosaic surmounts the frame. The tile mosaic inside the niche itself depicts a garden of roses, carnations and hyacinths. The chandelier and the colored glass windows are later additions. 

Sources:

Baykal, Kazim. Bursa ve Anitlari. Istanbul: Türkiye Anit Çevre Turizm Degerlerini Koruma Vakfi, 1982, Istanbul.

Goodwin, Godfrey. A History of Ottoman Architecture. London: Thames and Hudson: London, 1971.

Gabriel, Albert. Une Capitale Turque, Brousse, Bursa. Paris: E. de Boccard, 1958.