| Menûçihr Camii | |
|---|---|
 The first mosque built in Anatolia (modern day Turkey) | |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Islam |
| Province | Kars |
| Location | |
| Location | Kars Province |
  Shown within Turkey | |
| Geographic coordinates | 40°30′36″N43°34′12″E / 40.51000°N 43.57000°E /40.51000; 43.57000 |
| Architecture | |
| Type | Mosque |
| Style | Islamic Architecture |
| Groundbreaking | 1072 |
| Completed | 1086 |
| Minaret | 1 |
Menucihr Mosque, alsoManučehr Mosque (Kurdish:Mizgefta Menûçêhr) is amosque in the medieval city ofAni inKars Province,Turkey. It was built between 1072 and 1086[1] byManuchihr ibn Shavur of theKurdishShaddadid dynasty. The restoration of the mosque started in June 2020.[2][3][4][5]
The style of the vault is considered as similar to that of thegavit orzhamatun of theChurch of the Holy Apostles at Ani (built before 1217), suggesting broadly similar dates and circumstances.[6]
Akufic inscription in a long band on its left façade related to the foundation of the mosque byManuchihr ibn Shavur, under the government of Seljuk SultanMalik-Shah I:[7]
[In the name of Allah, most gracious, most merciful, the construction of this mosque and mi]naret was ordered by the great emirShuja al-daula Abu Shujā Mīnuchīhr b. Shavūr in the government of our lord, the exalted sultan, the great Shahanshah [the great king of all peoples, ruler of the Arabs and Persians, king of the Ea]st and West,Abu-l Fath Malikshah b. Alp-Arslan…
— Foundation inscription of the mosque.[7]
A small trilingual inscription in the bottom left corner reads:
In Persian (no longer visible): In hejira 635 [1237/1238], the sinner,Zikéria, son of the late...
In Georgian [upper two lines]: In koronikon 458 [1238] I, theatabegZakaria, I have confirmed this
In Armenian [lowest line]: Those who observe this, may they be blessed by God
— Trilingual inscripition[8]
On top of it are a large MongolIlkhanidyarligh inscription of 1319, a taxation edict.[7][5]
![Menucihr Mosque, plan, 1881.[9]](/mt/?noimg=&dark=on&url=http%3a%2f%2fen.wikipedia.org%2fwiki%2fFile%3aMenucihr_Mosque%2c_inside%2c_1881.jpg)
![Menucihr Mosque, outside, 1881.[9]](/mt/?noimg=&dark=on&url=http%3a%2f%2fen.wikipedia.org%2fwiki%2fFile%3aMenucihr_Mosque%2c_outside%2c_1881.jpg)
![Menucihr Mosque, plan, 1881.[9][10]](/mt/?noimg=&dark=on&url=http%3a%2f%2fen.wikipedia.org%2fwiki%2fFile%3aMenucihr_Mosque%2c_plan%2c_1881.jpg)
Researchers has dated the structure to the year of 1086
This date is based on the similarity between its stone vaults and those of the zhamatun of the church of the Holy Apostles, which has a terminus ante quem of 1217, determined by the earliest surviving inscription there: Orbeli, Corpus Inscriptionum Armenicarum, no. 56; Basmadjian, Inscriptions armeniennes d'Ani, no. 49.
