Hatai motifs on Rustem Pasha Mosque tiles

Tile art holds significant importance in Ottoman architecture and has been widely used in many structures. Built during the golden age of Ottoman tile art, the Rüstem Pasha Mosque showcases some of the finest examples of this art. Among the tiled mosques of Istanbul, it stands out for its richness in tile decorations. Designed by Mimar Sinan, the mosque resembles a tile museum in its appearance. The tiles, covering the entire mosque starting from the last congregation area, captivate with their patterns and technique. These unique designs have inspired many structures built in later periods. Rüstem Paşa Mosque is an important structure that stands out with its richness in tile decorations and diversity of motifs. In this study, the hatai motifs found in the mosque's tiles were examined. The hatai motif appears in various forms and original designs in many branches of art. The aim of this study is to analyze the hatai motifs used in the tiles of Rüstem Paşa Mosque, identify their types and quantities, and support the findings with drawings. As a result of the examinations conducted within the scope of this thesis, a total of 138 different types of hatai motifs were identified. Measurements were taken for 112 of these motifs. The dimensions of these motifs range between 2,5 cm and 43,5 cm Based on their sizes, 8 motifs were classified as large, 24 as medium, and 79 as small. The most diverse hatai motif designs are found in the arch panels of the mosque. The total number of hatai motifs used throughout the mosque is estimated to be approximately 8852. Keywords: Tile, Motif, Hatai, Stylized Flower, Ottoman, Rüstem Pasha Mosque.