Gazi Husrev-beg Mosque

Coordinates: 43°51′33″N 18°25′44.5″E / 43.85917°N 18.429028°E / 43.85917; 18.429028
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Gazi Husrev-beg Mosque
Gazi Husrev-beg Mosque from Hotel Europe
Religion
AffiliationSunni Islam
Location
LocationSarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Geographic coordinates43°51′33″N 18°25′44.5″E / 43.85917°N 18.429028°E / 43.85917; 18.429028
Architecture
Architect(s)Acem Esir Ali "Alaüddin"
TypeMosque
StyleOttoman architecture
Completed1531
Specifications
Capacity~1,500 (including ~500 in courtyard)
Dome(s)9
Dome height (outer)26 m
Dome dia. (outer)13 m
Minaret(s)1
Minaret height47 m

Gazi Husrev-beg Mosque (

Muslims in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is located in the Baščaršija neighborhood in the Stari Grad
municipality and, being one of the main architectural monuments in the town, is regularly visited by tourists.

History

turbe (mausoleum
)

The

Ragusan
masons, requested from their government by Gazi Husrev-beg, participated in the building process.

Gazi Husrev-bey Mosque was the first mosque in the world to receive electricity and electric illumination in 1898 during the period of Austro-Hungarian Empire.[2]

Architecture

The minaret with the Muezzin calling to prayer. Note the Eastern Arabic numerals on the Ottoman-era clock tower.

The mosque belongs to the type of complex-spaced, multi-domed mosques and it is a represent of the Early Period of

Classical Ottoman Architecture (sometimes referred to as Early Istanbul Style). The central rectangular space, framed by high walls and covered with a dome resting on pendentives, represents the spine of the structure, while lower extensions lean to it and expand the volume of the interior space. The qibla side of the mosque is extended with a rectangular space which is covered by a semi-dome resting on two highly developed muqarnas structures. They stand in function of pendentives, reducing the rectangular outline of the ground level to the near semi-circle shape in level of the semi-dome. This area houses central architectural elements with religious purposes: mihrab, minbar and kursi and, being open to the central space with a huge arch, represents the focal point of the mosque. Two smaller spaces, called tetime[check spelling
] (sg. tetima) are located on the left and right sides of the central space, placed furthest from the Kibla side. They are covered by two lower domes resting on pendentives.

The exterior is dominated by the main dome, topped out only by a simple, yet monumental minaret. The entry side is marked with a portico resting on four wide columns and covered with little domes, only the central one, above the portal, being a bit greater than others, and resting on muqarnas-adorned pendentives, in contrast to others which are laid on simple, plain-surfaced pendentives. The monumental portal is richly decorated with muqarnas, as well as columns' capitals.

In his legacy, he stated: "Good deeds drive away evil, and one of the most worthy of good deeds is the act of charity, and the most worthy act of charity is one which lasts forever. Of all charitable deeds, the most beautiful is one that continually renews itself."[3]

Destruction and reconstruction

Gazi Husrev-beg mosque in the 19th century

During the Siege of Sarajevo, Serbian forces purposely targeted many centers of the city's culture, such as museums, libraries, and mosques, and fired on them generally. As the largest and best known, the Beg's mosque was an obvious target.

interior dome of Gazi Husrev-bey Mosque
interior of Gazi Husrev-bey Mosque

Having suffered a significant amount of destruction, the reconstruction of the Mosque started with foreign - mainly Saudi - aid in 1996, right after the war. The old and faded layer of

Austro-Hungarian decoration was removed and, since remains of older, historical layers of decorative painting weren't found,[dubious – discuss
] a completely new interior was designed and applied by Bosnian calligrapher Hazim Numanagić in 2001/2002. Austro-Hungarian decoration, performed mostly in pseudo-Moorish style, remains only on the portal of the Mosque today.

Gallery

See also

References

  1. ^ "Nihad Čengić - Begova džamija kao djelo umjetnosti". Retrieved 17 July 2016.
  2. ^ Izvor: Dnevni avaz, br. 4297, godina XII, nedjelja, 9.9.2007., Panorama, str. 14
  3. ^ Visit Sarajevo. "Gazi Husrev Bey's Mosque". Archived from the original on 26 April 2010. Retrieved 12 May 2010.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Gazi Husrev-beg's Mosque.
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