Şehzade Mehmed Tomb
Construction Year: 1543–1548
Ordered by: Kanuni Sultan Süleyman
Architect: Mimar Sinan
Prominent Features:
- Octagonal in plan, it is one of the masterpieces of classical Ottoman tomb architecture.
- It is covered with a large fluted dome; the drum of the dome is adorned with palmette friezes, moldings, and acroter decorations.
- The facades, divided by half-columns, are encircled with red stone moldings and palmette friezes.
- Each side has two windows on both lower and upper levels—30 windows in total.
- Lower windows are rectangular; upper ones are set within pointed arches made of alternating red and white stone.
- Between the windows are celi-sülüs inscriptions of verses from Surahs Fatiha, Takathur, Ikhlas, and Zumar.
- An Esma al-Husna band runs above the lower row of windows.
- The eastern façade features a three-bay portico and a Bursa-arched entrance door adorned with inlaid colored marble.
- Above the door are inscriptions from Surahs Ra’d and Zumar, and tiled panels bearing the Kalima Tawheed flank the entrance.
- The interior is decorated with tiles in gray, red, and white; motifs include flowers, scrolling vines, lotus blossoms, and palmettes.
- Over Şehzade Mehmed’s sarcophagus sits an ivory-inlaid wooden throne, symbolizing Sultan Suleiman’s wish for him to be sultan.
- Also buried in the tomb are his brother Şehzade Cihangir, his daughter Hümaşah Sultan, and one unidentified person.
