Book

Description

The Wooden Hypostyle Mosques of Medieval Anatolia examines a distinctive architectural tradition within Islamic architecture, in which timber—rather than the more predominant materials of stone and brick—forms the principal component of the load-bearing system. The Afyonkarahisar Ulu Mosque, Sivrihisar Ulu Mosque, Ankara Arslanhane (Ahi Şerafeddin) Mosque, Beyşehir Eşrefoğlu Mosque, and Mahmut Bey Mosque in Kasaba Village, Kastamonu, all of which were inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2023, constitute outstanding examples of medieval Anatolian architecture with their timber columns, flat timber ceiling systems, muqarnas capitals, kündekârî minbars, and richly articulated decorative programmes. These five monuments, among the most distinguished surviving examples of the medieval Anatolian tradition of timber-post-and-beam mosque architecture, are presented with particular reference to their historical development, plans and architectural characteristics, timber structural systems, use of materials, and decorative programmes. The study also addresses the historical and architectural context of the wooden hypostyle mosque tradition and explains the process through which these monuments were inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, their Outstanding Universal Value, the criteria underpinning their inscription, and the principles of authenticity, integrity, conservation, and management. By bringing together the architectural and artistic characteristics of these remarkable monuments, which have continued to serve their religious function for centuries, this book aims to introduce the timber mosque heritage of Anatolia and to highlight its significance within the framework of UNESCO World Heritage.