Afyonkarahisar Grand Mosque is a monumental mosque with wooden pillars located in the center of Afyonkarahisar in Turkey. Built between 1272-1277, the mosque is one of the important examples of wooden pillared mosque architecture from the Anatolian Seljuk period and the Principalities period. It was declared a World Heritage Site by the decision taken at the 45th UNESCO World Heritage Committee meeting in 2023.
Afyon Ulu Mosque was built by the architect Emir Hacı Bey on the order of Sanjakbey Nusretiddun Hasan between 1272-1277 during the Anatolian Seljuk period. It is one of the most important examples of wooden pillared and wooden beamed mosques from the Middle Ages in Anatolia.
Located at the foot of Afyon Castle, the Grand Mosque has also been called “Cami-i Kebir” or “Hocabey Mosque” in some historical records, starting from the 16th century.
The mosque’s thick masonry walls with an earthen roof, now covered with zinc, are supported by 40 wooden columns in five rows of eight. The wooden column capitals placed on the wooden columns are stalactite and diamond-shaped.
The stone mihrab of the mosque is decorated with 6 muqarnas. The wooden pulpit has geometric patterns, triangular panels and dovetails. A significant portion of the mosque’s hand-carved decorations were destroyed between 1946 and 1953; some of the columns and capitals were also replaced. Some of the old wooden capitals are currently exhibited in the Afyonkarahisar Museum and in an open area.
With its wooden architecture and minaret attached to the main wall, the mosque is one of the most beautiful examples of the Seljuk period. Afyonkarahisar Ulu Mosque was one of the five mosques inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2023 as the Wooden Hypostyle Mosques of the Medieval Period of Anatolia. Other mosques on the list are Sivrihisar Ulu Mosque in Eskişehir, Ahi Şerafettin (Arslanhane) Mosque in Ankara, Eşrefoğlu Mosque in Konya and Mahmut Bey Mosque in Kastamonu.
Built between 1272 and 1277, the mosque is one of the important examples of wooden pillared mosque architecture from the Anatolian Seljuk and Principalities periods.
It is also known as the Forty-Directed Mosque because its roof is supported on wooden columns.
The structure was first repaired in 1341 during the Karamanid Principality; information about the repair is included in the inscription placed on the door on the eastern facade. The mosque underwent maintenance and repairs in 1765, 1851, 1950, 1969, 1978, 1983-1984, and 2006.
It is a wooden mosque with a trapezoidal rectangular plan located in a courtyard. The mosque has a wooden ceiling and wooden pillars, and its exterior is made of rubble stone. The structure, which originally had a flat earthen roof, today has a high pyramidal roof covered with copper.
The interior has nine naves extending perpendicular to the mihrab wall. Each nave is divided by six cylindrical columns. The wooden columns resting on a marble base have wooden column capitals, some plain and some with muqarnas. Since the floor was raised during the restoration, the upper part of the marble bases is visible today, close to the carpet level.
The minaret of the structure is on the west corner of the north facade. Its pentagonal base is cut stone; one row of cut stone continues with three rows of brick. The body of the minaret is made of brick. It has diamond motifs made of green glazed brick. There are 4 light windows and 76 steps on the body of the minaret. It is thought to have been built in the 15th century during the reign of Ottoman Sultan Yıldırım Bayezid. A fountain was added next to the base of the minaret during the same period.
The interior of the mosque is spacious and airy, creating a peaceful atmosphere. The old clock inside the mosque is another striking element. The ceiling of the mosque is covered with wooden beams covering the nine naves and supported by 40 wooden columns. The stalactite decorations on the column capitals are details that increase the artistic value of the mosque. The central nave of the mosque is slightly wider and higher than the others, creating an interesting dynamic in the space.
The minaret of the Grand Mosque is a rare brick structure from the Seljuk period, decorated with glazed ornaments in the form of a lozenge. The ornaments on the mosque's north portal, mihrab and pulpit are impressive examples of early Ottoman art. The pulpit, especially made with the kundekari technique, is a fine example of woodwork.
Spending time in this historical place offers an experience that takes one deep into the past. The ambiance is truly beautiful and spending time in the peaceful atmosphere of the mosque is enjoyable.
A mosque that has survived from the Middle Ages of Anatolian civilizations. It is located at the foot of Karahisar Castle. It reveals the period's wooden beam and wooden pillar architecture. I found the mosque very neglected. It needs to be cleaned and its carpets changed.
It is one of the most beautiful examples of the Seljuk period with its wooden architecture and minaret adjacent to the main wall. It is one of the 5 mosques included in the UNESCO World Heritage, it is quite valuable.
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