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THE ISA BEY MOSQUE |
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by is The Isa Bey Mosque. This is one of the oldest mosques in Turkey,
begun in 1307, and completed in 1375 AD. It is the oldest known mosque
with an exterior courtyard. This high walled section constitutes two
thirds of the building and contains a fountain surrounded by porticoes
and three gates. The Anatolian columned mosque has a transept, so that
it is also the earliest example of this style.
The Arabic inscription above the main door says that it was built in 1375 for Isa Bey, the son of Mehmet Bey, and that the architect was Ah, the son of Dimishikli. It is an excellent example of the transition between post-Seljuk and pre-Ottoman. There is exquisite ornamentation throughout the mosque, with especially good examples of the arabesque and network style. One of its most striking features is the way the architect used pieces from older buildings to create a unique work of art. |
