The spacious ‘son cemaat yeri’ (= ‘area for those who came late’), where worshippers who reached the mosque late or at the last moment, will gather and fulfil their prayer duty. Two ‘mihrab’ (prayer niche) have been placed here (one of them on this picture); such secondary mihrabs help people here to feel more connected with the congregation inside. The mural decoration is the result of the latest restoration of the mosque; it is inspired on 16th century ‘kalem işi’ motifs, and on a simplified version of Iznik tiles design.

‘Kalem işi’ (= work of the pen/paintbrush): murals in mosques, inspired on the geometric or stylised ornamentation used by Ottoman calligraphers to illuminate books.

Correspondent: J.M.Criel, Antwerpen.
Source: Website of ‘istanbuldakicamiler.com’ .