Big Khan Mosque

Summary

The Big Khan Mosque (Crimean Tatar: Büyük Han Cami, Ukrainian: Велика ханська мечеть, Turkish: Büyük Han Camii) is located in Bakhchisaray, Crimea, and is part of the Bakhchisaray Palace. It is one of the largest mosques in the Crimea and one of the first buildings of the Khan's palace. The mosque was built in 1532 by Sahib I Giray and bore his name in the 17th century.

The Big Khan Mosque
Religion
AffiliationIslam
RiteSunni
StatusActive
Location
LocationBakhchisaray
StateTerritory of Ukraine, occupied by Russia[1]
TerritoryAutonomous Republic of Crimea AR Crimea (de jure)
Autonomous Republic of Crimea Republic of Crimea (de facto)
Geographic coordinates44°44′55.22″N 33°52′55.06″E / 44.7486722°N 33.8819611°E / 44.7486722; 33.8819611
Architecture
TypeMosque
StyleOttoman architecture
Completed1532
Specifications
Minaret(s)2
Minaret height28 meters
Materials...

History edit

The mosque consists of a three-aisle square prayer hall covered with a hipped roof, a narthex and porticos facing east and west. Two symmetrical octagonal minarets rise through the porticos; they are twenty-eight meters high and have conical caps and finials. A domed wudu kiosk of square shape is attached to the northeastern corner of the mosque. It is believed that a madrasah built by Khan Arslan Giray in 1750 used to adjoin the eastern wall. The mosque is entered from a portal facing north. Inside, a balcony is attached to three of the four walls, part of which is sectioned off for the Khan's lodge. Scholars argue that the mosque was originally roofed with domes of various sizes.[2]

In 1736 the mosque was damaged by fire and later restored during the reign of Khan Selameta Giray.

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ This place is located on the Crimean peninsula, which is internationally recognized as part of Ukraine, but since 2014 under Russian occupation. According to the administrative-territorial division of Ukraine, there are the Ukrainian divisions (the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city with special status of Sevastopol) located on the peninsula. Russia claims these as federal subjects of the Russian Federation (the Republic of Crimea and the federal city of Sevastopol).
  2. ^ "Tatar Khans' Palace". ArchNet. Archived from the original on 2012-10-03. Retrieved 2011-02-21.