Mimar Sinan

Childhood & the Rise to Fame

Picture
This is an aerial view of Mimarsinan Koy
Mimar Sinan's place of birth is Anatolia, Turkey, in a town now known as Mimarsinan Koy. Although he was not of Turkish descent, he is now revered as a great Turkish architect. His parents were Greek Christians, and Sinan was born in the year 1489. He was raised in apprenticeship to his father, who may have been a stone mason and carpenter. 


    He was drafted into the Ottoman Janissary Corps in the year 1512. He traveled to Istanbul, where he was given an exemplary education in several schools. There he studied carpentry and mathematics. He converted to Islam, and later changed his name to Sinan. In the military, he served as chief fireworks officer, military engineer, and police magistrate. He advanced quickly on the ladder of promotions because of architectural successes during campaigns in which he contrived ferry services and constructed bridges to conveniently transport troops. Thus he became widely known and was elevated to a level of fame. He was present at many Ottoman victories, and lended an architectural hand in most. Having proved himself an accomplished master architect, he became royal architect, and proceeded to serve 3 great sultans.