Evliya Çelebi describes the garden courtyard of the mosque as follows: The construction [of the mosque] began in 951 [1544–1545] and completed in 963 [1556]. There is an outer courtyard surrounding the three sides of this mosque. Various kinds of plane trees, weeping willows, cypresses . . . adorn the courtyard that is surrounded by fenestrated walls. On the east side, there is a staircase leading down the bath house. Garden walls on the east side are low, allowing [visitors] to enjoy the sight of the city. All the cemaat would gather at this location and view the palace, Üsküdar, Boğazhisar, Beşiktaş, Tophane, Galata, Kasımpaşa, and Okmeydanı. From this courtyard looking over the world, it is possible to watch those boats and ships on the Golden Horn and the Bosphorus.
Source: Travel Account, 17th century
-Nurhan Atasoy, Seyit Ali Kahraman
Source:
Evliya Çelebi Seyahatnâmesi: Topkapı Sarayı Bağdat 304 Yazmasının transkripsiyonu (Open in Zotero)
Originally published at: Atasoy, Nurhan, and Seyit Ali Kahraman "Courtyard of Sultan Süleyman Mosque.” Middle East Gardens Traditions. Dumbarton Oaks, December 1, 2014. https://www.doaks.org/resources/middle-east-garden-traditions/catalogue/C98. Archived at: https://perma.cc/5UDZ-R9BM.
