Koca Mustafa Pasha Mosque

Istanbul, Turkey

Koca Mustafa Pasha Mosque is a former Byzantine church in Istanbul, Turkey, converted into a mosque between 1486 and 1491 by Koca Mustafa Pasha. Originally dedicated to Saint Andrew of Crete, its foundation dates back to the 6th century.

The building was first constructed in the 5th century as a monastery and later rebuilt in 1284 by Princess Theodora Raoulaina. After the Ottoman conquest, it was converted into a mosque and also served as a dervish lodge. Over the centuries, it underwent multiple restorations, including a dome reconstruction after the 1766 earthquake.

The mosque retains elements of its original Byzantine ambulatory design but was significantly altered during the Ottoman period. It features a central dome, half-domes, barrel vaults, and an outer narthex. The exterior, made of polished stone, reflects Ottoman architectural style. An underground cistern remains as the last remnant of the original Byzantine monastery.

References:

Comments

Your name



Details

Founded: 1284
Category: Religious sites in Turkey

More Information

en.wikipedia.org

User Reviews

Powered by Google

Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings

Historic Site of the week

Argos Theater

The ancient Argos Theater was built in 320 BC. and is located in Argos, Greece against Larissa Hill. Nearby from this site is Agora, Roman Odeon, and the Baths of Argos. The theater is one of the largest architectural developments in Greece and was renovated in ca 120 AD.

The Hellenistic theater at Argos is cut into the hillside of the Larisa, with 90 steps up a steep incline, forming a narrow rectilinear cavea. Among the largest theaters in Greece, it held about 20,000 spectators and is divided by two landings into three horizontal sections. Staircases further divide the cavea into four cunei, corresponding to the tribes of Argos A high wall was erected to prevent unauthorized access into the theatron and may have helped the acoustics, but it is said the sound quality is still very good today.

Around 120 CE, both theaters were renovated in the Roman style.