Ottoman Mosques Research Articles

Flower of Life and Its Reflections on Ottoman Mosque Architecture

İnsanoğlu duygusunu, düşüncesini veya bir nesneyi tanımlaması için yaşadığı süreç içerisinde çeşitli semboller kullanmıştır. Yaşanılan her dönemde farklı kültür ve amaçları yansıtmak amacıyla tercih edilen semboller, dünya sanatında önemli bir yer teşkil etmektedir. Kullanılan bu semboller bazen inancı temsil ederken bazen gücü veya kutsiyet atfedilen unsurları kapsamaktadır. Bu doğrultuda tarihsel süreç içerisinde var olan devletler kendilerine özgü semboller oluşturduğu gibi dünya sanatı için ortak semboller de benimsenmiştir. Hayat ağacı dünya sanatında ortak sembollerden birisi olarak kabul edilmektedir. Farklı varyasyonları söz konusu olsa da hayat ağacı olarak karşımıza çıkmaktadır. Benzer bir husus gücün simgesi konumunda olan aslan, kartal gibi yırtıcı hayvanlar ve ejder gibi fantastik figürlerde göstermektedir. Bu motifler de işleniş açısından kültürden kültüre farklılıklar ortaya koyabilir. Belirtilen semboller dışında Asya, Afrika ve Avrupa kıtasında karşılaşılan, verilişi, ortaya konuluşu ve işlenişi bakımından değişlik yapılamayan simgelerin başında “Yaşam Çiçeği” gelmektedir. Evrenin ve sonsuzluğun, kusursuzluğun, yaratılışın simgesi olan geometrik kurgu dünyanın ortak motiflerinden birisidir. Türk-İslam Sanatı süslemesinde rozet, çiçek, gülbezek, yıldız gibi farklı isimler ile adlandırılan “yaşam çiçeği” motifinin manası, ortaya çıkışı, hangi medeniyetlerde görüldüğü değerlendirilerek Osmanlı mimarisine nasıl yansıdığı ve işlendiği konusu aydınlatılmaya çalışılacaktır.

New Mosques Architectural Platform: Digitalised Inventory and Analysis for Mosques Referencing

This research tackles the architectural typology of mosques built by religious associations in Algeria, which is a timeless issue. Despite the specific legislation of the new mosques' architectural typology, random or fanciful architectures in the field are considered Islamic Architecture. Our research aims to analyze mosque architectural data and report all the architectural and architectonic elements identified in two Algerian wilayas as a case study. It is then to classify and define the authentic typologies of Maghrebi, Ottoman mosques, or any other developed by specialists in Islamic architecture and art, especially if the platform is linked with the general inventory of Islamic architecture accredited by UNESCO. The concept of creating the platform starts with an inventory of mosques, and it is then developed to list various criteria for classifying mosques. Thus, a flexible filtering system is implemented to help perform multi-criteria analysis and visualize results in a geographic interface. This platform can meet several objectives in many research fields and be adapted for buildings other than mosques. Furthermore, the platform will serve as a basis for researchers and students, the Directorates of Religious Affairs, and the Ministry of Religious Affairs to analyze the architectural data of mosques.

Bewildered and Enchanted: Early Modern Imperial Ottoman Mosques and the Sense of Wonder

ABSTRACT: this paper proposes that early modern Ottoman intellectuals familiar with a medieval cosmographic theory of wonder formed a large emotional community whose members valued and practiced this emotion towards imperial Ottoman mosques. To achieve this objective, I draw upon a variety of sources from the early modern period, including chronicles, treatises on architecture, and travelogues, created by individuals who belonged to this emotional community. Sources such as these contain words, symbols, and gestures, that aided the whole group in recognizing this desirable emotion in the context of imperial architecture. Through their writing, these individuals sought to instill cosmographic wonder among their readers, while at the same time conveying the message that imperial mosques represent the creation of God. Such a narrative was employed by the Ottomans as long as cosmographies were in demand. From the beginning of the seventeenth century, when updated studies on geography gradually replaced cosmographies, there were those within this emotional community who underwent an epistemological change. From this point on, wonder at Ottoman architecture was generated by different stimuli which were not necessarily related to the cosmographic theory of wonder.

Ariadneplus Project: a Brief Archaeological Report Regarding the Ottoman Heritage in Dobruja, Romania1 †

This text is a report on the archaeological surveys enabled by the ARIADNEplus project and dedicated to the Ottoman mosques and Muslim cemeteries in Dobruja (eastern Romania), mainly in rural areas, a category of monuments usually neglected by both archaeological research and official heritage policies. In total, 80 mosques and Muslim cemeteries were identified, mapped, and documented within the project. The report focuses on the assessment of the past, present, and future dangers that threaten Ottoman cultural heritage in the study-region. We argue that Muslim mosques and cemeteries represent one of the last and most enduring material memories of the Ottoman past in the contemporary Dobrujan landscape, but they are a heritage in constant danger of destruction.

A GEOPARK CANDIDATE, BOZKIR-CENTRAL TURKEY

Bozkır is an old town established on the skirts of the Taurus Mountains, and contain various tectonic units, eg. Bozkır unit, extending laterally several hundreds of kilometres. The Bozkır unit typically crops out and hence named around Bozkır district. It is formed by deep sea sediments, ophiolites and submarine basic volcanic rocks, all of which overlied by well-exposed Paleogene and Neogene? units. Bozkır is rich not only for its geological occurrence, but also for its culture, history and nature. Bozkır is in a central position of ancient Isauria and represented by Zengibar castle. The town has also a bridge of Seljuk period and various Seljuk and Ottoman Mosques. Çarşamba stream, source of the life in the region, is originated from Taurus Mountains both as Aygır spring, and as leakage from Sarıot lake. It crosses from various villages and town up to Mavi Gorge to meet with the water channel. All of which suggest that Bozkır district should be declared as a Geopark.

The Traditional Culture of Dogon (Mali) in the Context of Islamic Civilization.

The article examines the phenomenon of the penetration of elements of pre-Islamic decor into the architecture of mosques in the Dogon Country (Mali). In the case of Dogon architecture, one can observe a very peculiar version of the interaction of traditional culture with Islam. In itself, the use of forms and types of architectural structures traditional for the given territory is well known - it is enough to recall the Ottoman mosques. With the Dogon, the situation is different: the architecture of mosques reproduces not just the decor of a building directly related to traditional religion, but precisely those details of it that are associated with the worship of "idols", or fetishes. Similar incidents were recorded in other areas of Dogon modern traditional culture. A typical example is the prophet Amabir (Amabirɛ, “Creation of the Lord”, abbreviated as Abirɛ) Goro (Goro), who owns the prophecy that some day or other the Dogon will return to the Mande Country. The Dogon consider Amabire, and not Muhammad, the "last prophet" and connect the legend about him with the history of Islam in Mali. These cases indicate the penetration of pagan elements into Muslim architecture, as well as the penetration of Islam into pagan folklore and a clear desire to link them with each other. So this is evidence of the synthesis of Islam and traditional culture: pagan elements of Dogon heritage are no longer recognized as such, and Islamic elements are not identified by the Dogon only with religion.

Uncommon Layouts in the Plans of Ottoman Mosques in Greece (Rohodes and Crete Islands)

Uncommon Layouts in the Plans of Ottoman Mosques in Greece (Rohodes and Crete Islands)

From Parisian to Islamic: The Changing Horizons of Late Ottoman Mosque Interiors in the 1840s to 1870s

From Parisian to Islamic: The Changing Horizons of Late Ottoman Mosque Interiors in the 1840s to 1870s

Ottoman Mosques in Albania: Building Acoustic Exploration inside Five Case Studies

The Ottoman mosques of the 15th and 16th centuries represent an architectural typology that has been replicated in territories out of the Middle East for as long as Islam spread its influence on other countries. This paper deals with the determination of the acoustic properties inside a few Ottoman mosques located in different cities of Albania, specifically in Elbasan, Berat, Kavaja, Tirana and Shkodra. A comparison between the prayer rooms of these five mosques has been undertaken in terms of the main acoustic parameters by following the standard requirements outlined in ISO 3382-1. The architectural characteristics of the single-unit mosques chosen for this research study are determined by the domed-square musalla, which has a comparable volume size among all five mosques. Results gathered by the acoustic measurements undertaken in unoccupied conditions highlight an overall lack of speech understanding given the values of some acoustic parameters fairly acceptable. This outcome is justified by the geometrical configuration, worsened by the presence of a dome that creates a focusing effect of the sound rays, and by the reflecting finish materials applied to walls and roof that facilitate the build-up defect of echoes.

Two Examples of Modern Mosques in Sarajevo by Architect Ahmet Hadrovic

In Bosnia and Herzegovina, a relatively large number of mosques were built during the Ottoman Empire (15th-19th century). During the SFRY (Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, 1945-1992), the socialist era, religion was on the margins of society, and the construction of new mosques was the hands of traditional masters who followed mainly the patterns of Ottoman mosques. There are rare exceptions, such as the White Mosque in Visoko (architect Zlatko Ugljen, 1983). After the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina (1992-1995), there was a change in the social order and composition of Bosnia and Herzegovina as a state, where (now in the capitalist system) many freedoms were open, including religious ones. The construction of sacral buildings has become a public matter of society where architects are also involved. The author of this paper was given the opportunity to design mosques, where, as a basic approach in design, he wanted to create modern buildings that will, in addition to the basic prayer space, have a number of other contents (covering both religious and secular needs of people). In addition, it was a good opportunity to apply new architectural and spatial concepts, new constructions and materials in the design of mosques, as well as the aesthetics rooted in the foundations of Islam as a universal view of the world. In his designs of mosques (ten realized and several at the level of the conceptual design), the author of this paper paid special attention, in addition to liquid functional flows, to the role of light in design, both daylight and artificial lighting.

Megadome Evolution in The Ottoman’s Mosques; The Links

A long history of civilization through various cultural and technological influences, had shaped the Ottoman mosque architecture. Each of the objects has its unique characteristics yet connected each other. This paper examines how the classic Turkish mosque-dome architecture, have evolved by proposing examination on configuration similarities and its connection. The authors address 23 mosques in the high classical period of the Ottoman's era to reveal spatial and technical considerations of the main building. The dynasty's route in architecture from central Asia, Seljuk, Bursa, Edirne, and Istanbul is the context of the discussion. It is undeniable that the development of dome architecture in classical Turkey shows some clear linkages from the previous to the later age. Furthermore, some links connected pre and after Istanbul conquest, which contribute to clarify the dispute of the novelty of the architecture, were discovered.

Тысячелетия скрепляющие своды: история собора Святой Софии Константинопольской сквозь призму интегральной методологии Питирима Сорокина

Historic decision to return to Hagia Sophia the status of a mosque once again proved that its history cycle has reached a new stage: from Byzantine temple — to the Ottoman mosque — through the UNESCO World Heritage Site — to the great Hagia Sophia mosque. In case of studying the historical dynamics of status, cultural significance and social functions of Hagia Sophia, the integral macrosociological theory of P.A. Sorokin is the most relevant and has got sufficient heuristic potential. The history of Hagia Sophia has been influenced and is still being affected by rhythmic sequence of three super-systems: ideational, idealistic and sensual. It's on the one hand. On the other hand, Hagia Sophia is not only an architectural object, which in its historical dynamics has passed a difficult way from a Christian temple to a mosque, but above all — one of the main means for expressing the set of values of the ideational cultural supersystem.

Characteristics of Irregular Column Capitals in Ottoman Mosques with Courtyards

The aim of this article is to examine the construction techniques of the irregular column capitals which are located at the junction of portico and courtyard arcades ( revak ) of six Ottoman mosques. The porticos height of the closed-courtyard mosques built during the Ottoman period regarding is mostly equal. However, in six cases, the porticos of the mosques are higher than their side porticos, which led alternative solutions to keep the continuity of the arcade surrounding the courtyard. The first phase of this study focuses on the construction techniques and materials of the column capitals in Ottoman architecture and the second phase deals with irregular capitals including their characteristics (sizes, materials, and relations with other building elements). For this purpose, detailed drawings were prepared through the site examinations and the literature review. As a result, despite that their size and shape vary depending on construction period, the relationship between last prayer hall and courtyard, structural aspects, and visual concern, their construction techniques, materials, and components show similar properties.

A Forgotten Fifteenth-Century Ottoman Mosque and Its Inscriptions

Abstract The Eşrefoğlu Mosque in Iznik was destroyed during the Turkish War of Independence, not long after Cornelius Gurlitt published a black and white photograph of its facade taken by G. Berggren. The photograph constitutes the only remaining visual evidence of a building whose initial construction likely dates to the lifetime of the shaykh whose memory it preserved. The flamboyant facade shown in the photograph reveals a unique mass of calligraphy, including inscriptions, published many years ago but revisited here. These inscriptions add to our understanding of the mosque’s history. My own telling of the phases of the building’s construction involves a reexamination of the identity of the mosque’s Ottoman dynastic patrons, principally Gülbahar Hatun, mother of Sultan Bayezid II. The inscriptions also raise questions about the shaykh’s spiritual legacy. Finally, the mosque’s spatial relationship to a nearby dervish lodge and to türbes associated with the shaykh and his family, buildings that also no longer survive, can be newly addressed.

HBIM IMPLEMENTATION FOR AN OTTOMAN MOSQUE. CASE OF STUDY: SULTAN MEHMET FATIH II MOSQUE IN KOSOVO

Abstract. National Strategy For Cultural Heritage 2017–2027 is a Kosovo Government document that aims the enhancement of the system for the protection and preservation of Kosovan cultural heritage. Among the listed goals, one can find the promotion of an integrated data management approach towards cooperation platforms that involve advanced technologies and information systems applied to cultural heritage. In a country with a low technological progress, as Kosovo is, an innovative information management system like HBIM is a huge challenge. This research contributes in opening the debate about the use of HBIM even for historical architecture, illustrating a methodology of information management promoting the conservation and the valorization of a Kosovan ottoman mosque. The workflow pipeline started with the close range photogrammetric survey, obtaining first spherical panoramas and then the wire-frame processed in a 3D modelling environment, suitable to implement the HBIM project. Basing on the accuracy of the data acquisition, the availability of information about the building and the related level of knowledge, we proposed a semantic representation of the complex structure integrating in an HBIM collecting in an “ad hoc” database the geometrical building components, enriched with attributes as images, materials, decay, interventions, etc., linked to each features. Our approach is an example of how efficient semantic classification can be repeated for the analysis and the documentation of other similar ottoman mosque, simplifying the management of construction by a sort of unique and searchable archive. The advantage of the interoperability concept allows the data sharing is now stressed by HBIM.

PATRONS OF OTTOMAN MOSQUES IN GREECE RECONSIDERED IN LIGHT OF THE IERAPETRA MOSQUE OF CRETE

TThe subject of this paper is based on a reconsideration of patrons of Ottoman mosques in Greece in light of the analyzed study of the Ierapetra Mosque of the island of Crete. This paper draws a layout of the Ierapetra city under the Ottomans based on the relevant sources with particular reference to the salnames and old photographs. It examines in details about the architecture, the inscriptions, and the historical context of Ierapetra mosque. This paper also corrects the reading of some inscriptions and proposes reading for some Arabic inscriptions for the first time. Based on a survey by the author conducted between 2006 and 2016, there are around eighty Ottoman historical mosques in Greece that still exist. It concludes that the Ierapetra mosque is a notable example with its architecture, inscriptions, and fountain. Moreover, it is one of the rare cases in Greece that were built by the contribution of the Muslim community of the city.

Recording and analyzing the pathology in ottoman mosques

Recording and analyzing the pathology in ottoman mosques

Recording and analyzing the pathology in ottoman mosques

Recording and analyzing the pathology in ottoman mosques

Reciprocal Relationships of Formative Attribute in Ottoman Mosques

Islamic architecture was the most obvious physical incarnation of Islamic civilization, and still. Thus, this object attracts an increased attention of architectural researchers and critics in general, especially, the concept of form and its attributes as it leads to deeper understanding of Islamic architecture models generally. This paper measures the integrated form application by the parameters of formal reciprocal relationships, which produce the final form that expresses an integrated system with formal connections eventually. These connections are usable as a design approach to achieve an architectural design with unique geometrical language that has multi-level features of an integral and reciprocal dimension. Architectural design principles of Ottoman mosques, as an important stage and style of Islamic architecture, have applied these parameters and relationships. The reciprocal relationships of formative attributes in these mosques imply a clear harmony and integration in a high geometrical discipline . The smooth flowing of reciprocity between plan and section is precise and balanced. As the basic effective feature to reach such precision in relationships is emerged from the volume- structure duality. These properties created the aesthetic phases for the general form of Ottoman mosques. It is pivotal to deploy these parameters and features in the act of producing architectural designs which have the continuity with the legacy of Islamic architecture, as well as creating the spirit of identity that has an obvious privacy, and deep civil and historical belonging.

Seismic Load Capacity of Historical Masonry Mosques by Rigid Body Kinetics

ABSTRACTKinetic analysis methods based on linear and nonlinear rigid body dynamics are used to evaluate earthquake safety of masonry structures. In this study, the formulas used to calculate the in-plane and out-of-plane load capacities of masonry load-bearing walls were evaluated and a procedure based on rigid body mechanism was proposed to calculate the out-of-plane load capacities of the walls of Ottoman period masonry mosques. New aspects of the method with respect to existing formulations is the inclusion of dynamic axial load and definition of the collapse limit spectral acceleration on the overturning wall. The calculated capacities of the mosque and individual walls were compared with the results of nonlinear pushover analysis and time history analyses performed under 1.0 and 0.5 scaled forms of nine different 3-component ground motion records. It was displayed that the seismic load capacity estimated by the proposed method is very close to the values calculated by pushover and time history analyses. The method was developed on Lala Pasha Mosque, and the reliability and applicability of the proposed methodology is verified on a different historical masonry mosque in comparison to finite element analyses results.