Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
Osmanli Medeniyeti Arastirmalari Dergisi, cilt.2024, sa.22, ss.150-168, 2024 (Scopus)
Yıldız Hamidiye Mosque was built in 1885 as the imperial mosque of Sultan II. Abdülhamid. One of the primary components of the mosque, which can be found in the prayer hall, is the azure painted ceiling with gilded stars. British architect and architectural historian William Richard Lethaby talks about the origin and appearence of these ceilings found during different periods, in his book titled “Architecture, Mysticism and Myth” published in 1892 in the chapter “Ceilings Like The Sky”. The decoration first appeared during the ancient Egypt period, where it was found on the ceilings of temples and tombs. Later it was commonly used in Roman and Byzantine architecture. The decoration became a component of gothic architecture, as its use became widespread in gothic churches in the European states, which had close ties with the Byzantine Empire. In the nineteenth century when the neogothic style emerged, the decoration reappeared in Europe and the United States of America. In this article, utilizing Lethaby’s chapter, the chronological and geographical journey of the painting is analyzed through the prominent architectural examples. Thus the ceiling decoration found in the prayer hall at Yıldız Hamidiye Mosque is interpreted as an eclectic and multi-layered design which refers to the ancient Egyptian, gothic and Byzantine architectures for symbolizing the power of the Empire.