Mosques of Ottoman Period in Bosnia and Herzegovina: A Typological Classification of Historical Forms

Abstract

At the beginning of the 20th century, more than a thousand mosques originating from the Ottoman period (1463-1878) were recorded in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Some estimates point that the number currently is much smaller. The goal of this study is to establish a typological classification of historical forms that were developed in more than four centuries. The diversity of patterns comes from the mixed influences ranging from the developed Ottoman style to the local material conditions and regional building traditions. This study used a qualitative evaluation of many characteristic examples to identify prevalent features that point to different types and subtypes of mosques. The evaluation of various examples used both firsthand observation and the written sources that are readily available. Thirty-six historical domed mosques were founded in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and their architecture is essentially a reflection of the architectural pattern predominantly from the 16th-century classical repertoire. However, a significantly higher proportion of mosques have sloping roofs where they strongly suggest domestic influences. The paper defines distinctive roofed mosque types where common characteristics predominate. Certain variations from the standard show a clear need for flexibility, adaptability, or improvisation. The study shows that the fundamental concept of the Turkish single-unit mosque, which was developed in Anatolia beginning in the 12th century, underwent a broad interpretation in Bosnia and Herzegovina throughout the Ottoman period, as evidenced by a variety of distinct types of roofed mosques.