Aslanhane Mosque ( tr, Arslanhane Camisi) is a 13th-century mosque in
Ankara
Ankara ( , ; ), historically known as Ancyra and Angora, is the capital of Turkey. Located in the central part of Anatolia, the city has a population of 5.1 million in its urban center and over 5.7 million in Ankara Province, maki ...
, Turkey.
Location
The mosque is in the old quarter of Ankara next to
Ankara Castle. With an altitude of it overlooks Ankara at .
History
Built during the reign of
Mesud II
Ghiyath al-Dīn Me’sud ibn Kaykaus or Mesud II ( 1ca, مَسعود دوم, ''Ghiyāth ad-Dīn Mas'ūd bin Kaykāwūs'' ( fa, غياث الدين مسعود بن كيكاوس) bore the title of Sultan of Rûm at various times between 1284 and 1 ...
of the
Anatolian Seljuks
fa, سلجوقیان روم ()
, status =
, government_type = Hereditary monarchyTriarchy (1249–1254) Diarchy (1257–1262)
, year_start = 1077
, year_end = 1308
, p1 = B ...
in 1290, the mosque is one of the oldest mosques in Turkey still standing. Its architect was Ebubekir Mehmet.
It was commissioned by two
Ahi leaders named Hüsamettin and Hasaneddin. However, in 1330, it was repaired by another Ahi leader named Şerafettin after whom the mosque was named. After several minor repairs the mosque was restored by the
Directorate General of Foundations in 2010-2013 term.
The building
The square-plan building with area has one minaret. Its wooden roof is supported by 24 large wood columns. It has 3 gates and 12 windows
The
mihrab is decorated with Seljuk tiles. The building material is mostly
spolia
''Spolia'' (Latin: 'spoils') is repurposed building stone for new construction or decorative sculpture reused in new monuments. It is the result of an ancient and widespread practice whereby stone that has been quarried, cut and used in a built ...
from earlier buildings.
Şerafettin's tomb is facing the mosque. There was a lion statue which was buried in the walls of Şerafettin's mosque. That's why the popular name of the mosque is Aslanhane meaning the house of the lion.
Gallery
File:Arslanhane Cami, 2019 11.jpg, The minaret
File:Arslanhane Camii, 2023 75.jpg, Main entrance
File:Arslanhane Cami, 2019 04.jpg, Archivolt of the west entrance
File:Arslanhane Camii, 2023 15.jpg, Wooden ceiling of the mosque
File:Arslanhane Camii, 2023 23.jpg, Minbar details
File:Arslanhane Camii, 2023 22.jpg, Minbar details
File:Arslanhane Camii, 2023 18.jpg, Minbar details
File:Arslanhane Mosque - Mihrab 02.jpg, The mihrab
File:Arslanhane Camii, 2023 42.jpg, Mihrab details
File:Arslanhane Camii, 2023 47.jpg, Mihrab details
File:Arslanhane Camii, 2023 31.jpg, Mihrab details
File:Arslanhane Camii, 2023 70.jpg, Spolia use at the exterior walls
References
{{Authority control
Mosques in Ankara
Seljuk mosques in Turkey
Religious buildings completed in 1290
13th-century mosques
World Heritage Tentative List for Turkey