Yeşil Türbe

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The mausoleum of the fifth Ottoman Sultan, Mehmed I, known as Yeşil Türbe (Green Tomb) was built by his son and successor Murad II following the death of the sovereign in 1421 in Bursa. The architect, Hacı Ivaz Paşa designed the tomb and the Yeşil Cami opposite to it .[1]

Set amidst cypresses on top of the hill in Yeşil neighborhood in Bursa, the mausoleum stands higher than the rest of the complex. It is built on a hexagonal plan and crowned with a hemi-spherical dome. The exterior of the mausoleum is clad with green-blue tiles that give it its name. A majority of the tiles were replaced by contemporary Kütahya tiles following damage in the Earthquake of Bursa 1855 ^[1]. The entry portal is crowned with semi-umbrella vault and has muqarnas niches above marble seats on both side of entrance. İznik tiles with flower patterns in blue, white and yellow adorn the portal.

Inside, past the carved wooden doors, the royal catafalque stands on a platform at the center surrounded by seven other tombs. It is richly decorated with scriptures and flower designs painted in yellow, white and blue glazed tiles. The lower section of walls is lined with blue-green tiles, also used in tympana of windows on the interior. The muqarnas niche of mihrab on the qibla wall is also set in a large frame of ornamental tilework: the mosaic of tiles inside the niche depicts a garden of roses, carnations and hyacinths. The chandelier and the colored glass windows are later additions.

Photos of Green Tomb (by archnet.org)

[edit] References

1. ^ Tile with arabesque decoration [Anatolia (Bursa)] (1998.246) | Works of Art | Timeline of Art History | The Metropolitan Museum of Art