On the picture: A sculpted pillar of the ‘şadırvan’ (fountain for ritual ablutions), which is standing in the center of the courtyard in front of the mosque. The stone carvings with interlocking plaits is a decorative pattern already used in the Ilhanlı (Iran-based Mongols) and late-Seljuk architecture; them appearing in a 16th century Ottoman mosque is due to regional artistic conservatism.

Correspondent: J.M.Criel, Antwerpen.