Detail within the Sultanahmet Camii (Sultan Ahmet Mosque, popularly known as the Blue Mosque after the blue tiles used in its construction).

With its unusual six minarets, the mosque was commisioned by Ottoman Sultan, Ahmet I, to rival and surpass the nearby Christian Byzantine built Hagia Sophia.

Construction began in 1609 and took seven years under the aegis of the great Master Builder, Mehmet Aga. Aga must have been motivated by the fate of his predecessor on the job who was fired by getting executed.

Istanbul, Turkey.

October 2008.