| Gazi Husrev-beg Mosque | |
|---|---|
 The mosque, viewed fromHotel Europe | |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Sunni Islam |
| Ecclesiastical or organizational status | Mosque |
| Status | Active |
| Location | |
| Location | Baščaršija,Sarajevo |
| Country | Bosnia and Herzegovina |
  Location of the mosque inSarajevo | |
 Interactive map of Gazi Husrev-beg Mosque | |
| Coordinates | 43°51′33″N18°25′44.5″E / 43.85917°N 18.429028°E /43.85917; 18.429028 |
| Architecture | |
| Architect | AcemAli Tabrizi "Alaüddin" |
| Type | Mosque |
| Style | Ottoman |
| Founder | Gazi Husrev-beg |
| Completed | 1531 |
| Specifications | |
| Capacity | c. 1,500 worshipers (incl.c. 500 in thesahn) |
| Dome | 9 |
| Dome height (outer) | 26 m (85 ft) |
| Dome dia. (outer) | 13 m (43 ft) |
| Minaret | 1 |
| Minaret height | 47 m (154 ft) |
TheGazi Husrev-beg Mosque (Bosnian:Gazi Husrev-begova džamija;Turkish:Gazi Hüsrev Bey Camii) is aSunnimosque in the city ofSarajevo,Bosnia and Herzegovina. Built in the 16th century, it is the largest historical mosque in Bosnia and Herzegovina and one of the most representativeOttoman structures inthe Balkans.
Having been Sarajevo's central mosque since the days of its construction, it also serves as the maincongregational mosque of theMuslims in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is located in theBaščaršija neighborhood in theStari Grad municipality and, being one of the main architectural monuments in the town, is regularly visited by tourists.
The mosque was named in honour ofGazi Husrev-beg, who founded the mosque and is interned in the adjacentmausoleum.
The Gazi Husrev-beg Mosque was built in 1530 as the central object of theBeg'sendowment, which also included amaktab and amadrasa, a bezistan (vaulted marketplace), and ahammam, etc. The foundation of this waqf by the contemporaryOttoman governor ofBosnia had a crucial point in the development of the town. The architect's name is unknown, but after some speculations, which even included famousMimar Sinan as an option, most scholars agreed that AcemAli Tabrizi "Alaüddin", an Ottoman mimar ofPersian ancestry, is the most probable builder. It is still possible that Sinan himself did inspect the work on the spot, since he was in the region at the time.[1] Historical documents testify thatRagusan masons, requested from their government by Gazi Husrev-beg, participated in the building process.
The 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]
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The mosque belongs to the type of complex-spaced, multi-domed mosques and it is a represent of the Early Period ofClassical Ottoman architecture (sometimes referred to as the Early Istanbul style). The central rectangular space, framed by high walls and covered with a dome resting onpendentives, represents the spine of the structure, while lower extensions lean to it and expand the volume of the interior space. Theqibla side of the mosque is extended with a rectangular space which is covered by a semi-dome resting on two highly developedmuqarnas 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 monumentalminaret. The entry side is marked with aportico resting on four wide columns and covered with little domes, only the central one, above theportal, 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]
During theSiege of Sarajevo, Serbian forces purposely targeted many cultural centres of the city, such as museums, libraries, and mosques, and fired on them. As the largest and best known, the Beg's mosque was an obvious target.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 ofAustro-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.
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| Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina |
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Cultural–historicalheritage ofBosnia and Herzegovina as designated byCommission to preserve national monuments of Bosnia and Herzegovina, in accordance to Annex 8 ofDayton Agreement For official site names and detailed information, see each article or theList of National Monuments of Bosnia and Herzegovina. | |||||||||||||
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