The Conqueror's Mosque (Fatih Camii)

Istanbul · Turkiet · Historic building

The architect lost both hands because the columns came out short — then he sued the sultan before the judge, and won his case.

Evliya Çelebi told the story Istanbul has never let go of. The architect Atik Sinan was commissioned to build the Conqueror's great mosque, but made the columns shorter than they should have been, so the dome could not rival Hagia Sophia. Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror had his hands cut off. The architect then did the unthinkable: he sued the sultan before Istanbul's judge, Hızır Bey, who found the ruler guilty and ordered retaliation in kind. The sultan submitted to the verdict. According to his gravestone Atik Sinan died in prison seven months after the mosque was finished; according to other sources he lived for years and signed further buildings. Historians dismiss the legend — and it is still told every time someone stands under the dome. His grave lies a few streets away.

FAQ

Where is The Conqueror's Mosque (Fatih Camii) located?

The Conqueror's Mosque (Fatih Camii) is in Istanbul, Turkiet.

More haunted places in Istanbul