The Mosque of Isabey
When
looking down from the Church of St. John, at the entrance to the plain, which
has been infilled through alluvial deposition brought by the River Cayster over
the centuries, there stands the Mosque of Isa Bey. It was constructed by order
of Isa Bey of the Aydınoğulları Emirate in 1375. It has a tetragonal plan,
close to a square, measuring 56.53×48.68 m. In the Mosque of Isa Bey the
minarets were located in the west and east corners of the actual area of
worship. Today only western minaret made of bricks, remains in part, standing.
Glazed bricks were used in the construction of the pedestal and in the body of
both of these minarets.
Even though the eastern and northern facades of the
mosque, constructed from ashlar masonry, are plain, the western front was
covered with marble slabs. The portal, in the middle of the western facade, has
some of the characteristics of earlier 13th century Seljuk architecture. The
monumental portals was made of White and yellowish stone and surrounded by a
carved moulding and the window frames draw attention with their elaborate
embellishments.
The inscription ( Kitabe), which was above the door and
measuring 1×6 m. has been lost. There is a construction notice below the door
arch and iy states “ the Mosque was constucted by an architect from Damascus
named Ali on the order of Isa Bey of the Aydınoğulları Beylik in 776 (H)”. On
proceeding into the court from this highly decorated gate, one sees in the
courtyard a polygonal water-tank with a fountain, the court surrounded by
porches on three sides.The columns and the columns capitals used in the
porches were reused material. It is known that the porches were covered by
wooden roofs. The area where acts of worship were carried out in the mosque was
reached by passing through the jagged arched three Gates, supported by small
columns. This area for prayer was divided into two sections by four great
granite columns. The mihrap was covered by two domes, each with a diameter of 9
m. The interior of the domes was covered in blue and turquoise glazed tiles.
The marble mirhap has been restored.
When
looking down from the Church of St. John, at the entrance to the plain, which
has been infilled through alluvial deposition brought by the River Cayster over
the centuries, there stands the Mosque of Isa Bey. It was constructed by order
of Isa Bey of the Aydınoğulları Emirate in 1375. It has a tetragonal plan,
close to a square, measuring 56.53×48.68 m. In the Mosque of Isa Bey the
minarets were located in the west and east corners of the actual area of
worship. Today only western minaret made of bricks, remains in part, standing.
Glazed bricks were used in the construction of the pedestal and in the body of
both of these minarets. 
Even though the eastern and northern facades of the
mosque, constructed from ashlar masonry, are plain, the western front was
covered with marble slabs. The portal, in the middle of the western facade, has
some of the characteristics of earlier 13th century Seljuk architecture. The
monumental portals was made of White and yellowish stone and surrounded by a
carved moulding and the window frames draw attention with their elaborate
embellishments. 
The inscription ( Kitabe), which was above the door and
measuring 1×6 m. has been lost. There is a construction notice below the door
arch and iy states “ the Mosque was constucted by an architect from Damascus
named Ali on the order of Isa Bey of the Aydınoğulları Beylik in 776 (H)”. On
proceeding into the court from this highly decorated gate, one sees in the
courtyard a polygonal water-tank with a fountain, the court surrounded by
porches on three sides.The columns and the columns capitals used in the
porches were reused material. It is known that the porches were covered by
wooden roofs. The area where acts of worship were carried out in the mosque was
reached by passing through the jagged arched three Gates, supported by small
columns. This area for prayer was divided into two sections by four great
granite columns. The mihrap was covered by two domes, each with a diameter of 9
m. The interior of the domes was covered in blue and turquoise glazed tiles.
The marble mirhap has been restored.
No comments:
Post a Comment