Oleg Naumov

Mihrimah Sultan Mosque was built according to order of Mihrimah Sultan (1522-1578) a daughter of Sultan Suleiman I also known as Suleiman the Magnificent (1494-1566) and was built by Ottoman architect Mimar Sinan (c.1488/90-1588) in 1563-1770. Istanbul, 🇹🇷 Turkey 🇹🇷. November 6, 2023.

Panorama 1453 shows the final assault of Constantinople on May 29, 1453. The Ottoman Army of Mehmed II, aka Mehmed the Conqueror (1432-1481), and contingents of his vassals arrived to vicinity of Constantinople on April 1, 1453. On April 6, they started proper siege. During the entire siege, both sides saw many unexplainable and even miraculous phenomenons in the skies over the city. Many times, they saw unnatural lights and irradiation in the sky during the day and night times. On May 22, when the full moon 🌝 had to be, the narrow crescent 🌙 appeared in the sky. Advisers, imams, and scholars failed to explain Mehmed reasons, nature, and meanings of these omens. Mehmed was very anxious because he had no results after 47 days of the siege and even planned to lift the siege when, during the late evening of May 28, he noticed the irradiation in the form of the column of the light over the dom of Saint Sophia Cathedral. Then it flashed, and light jumped into the sky. Darkness cowered city. Defenders decided that The Mother of God left Constantinople and city has no her protection anymore. Mehmed ordered assault that turned to be successful. Eight painters were working on that huge panorama, but I found only one name of Hashim Citizen. Panorama was opened on January 31, 2009. Istanbul, 🇹🇷 Turkey 🇹🇷. May- November 2, 2023.

Yedikule Hisari or the Seven Towers Fortress in Istanbul. It was built in 1458 by Ottoman Sultan Mehmed II, aka Mehmed the Conqueror (1432-1481), five years after the conquest of Constantinople. It can be a clear indication that Mehmed was not sure that other states were not going to counterattack the city of his dreams. Fortress was built in the southwest corner of ancient Theidosian Walls of Constantinople and the Golden Gate built in IV-V centuries A.D. by Roman Emperors Theodosius I (347-395) and Theodosius II (401-450) and was incorporated in the structure of the city defense. There were only four Golden Gates for the entire history of mankind. They are the Golden Gates of Jerusalem, Constantinople, Kiev, and Vladimir. Already in the XV century, this fortress became the prison because Istanbul was never threatened to suffer foreign military invasion till XIXcentury. That's why sometimes it is named Yedikule Zindanlari. Among most noticeable prisoners were Sultan Osman II (1604-1622), who was executed here by Janissaries, Emperor David Megas Komnenos of Trebizond (1408-1463), King Simon I of Kartli (Eastern Georgia) (1537-1611) and entire Russian Embassy with Ambassador Alexei Obrezkov (1718-1787) were imprisoned here in 1768 when Russo-Turkish War of 1768-1774 started. Istanbul, 🇹🇷 Turkey 🇹🇷. May- November 2, 2023.

Kalenderhane Mosque was originally built as the Byzantine Orthodox Church dedicated probably to the Mother of God between 1197-1204. When Roman Catholic crusaders captured Constantinople in 1204, they converted it to Roman Catholic Church and granted it to Franciscans. When Byzantines liberated Constantinople from Crusaders in 1261, Church again became Orthodox. After Ottomans conquered Constantinople on May 29, 1453, their Sultan Mehmed II, aka Mehmed the Conqueror (1432-1481), granted this church to dervishes of Kalenderi Order and they transformed it into refectory and ever since that time, it got the name Kalenderhane or Kalenderi Chamber. In the XVIII century, it became the mosque with the same name. Istanbul, 🇹🇷 Turkey 🇹🇷. May 5, 2023.

Mosque of Sokollu Mehmed Pasha or Mehmed Pasha Sokolovich (1506-1579), who was the Orthodox Serb born in Herzegovina. He was given to Ottomans as the "blood tax" to serve as the janussary and converted to Islam. He succeeded to became the Commander of Sultan's Guard in 1543-1546, Kapudan Pasha or High Admiral of the fleet in 1546-1551, Governor-General of Rumelia in 1551-1555, Third Vizier in 1555-1561, Second Vizier in 1561-1565 and at last Grand Vizier in 1565-1579 serving to three sultans Suleiman the Magnificent, Selim II and Murad III. Mosque was by built Ottoman architect Mimar Sinan (c.1488/90-1588) in 1568-1572. Fragments of the blackstone from Kaaba in Mecca are installed into Mihrab, Minbar and dome. Istanbul, 🇹🇷 Turkey 🇹🇷. May 4, 2023.