Al-Qaiqan Mosque

36°12′04″N 37°09′09″E / 36.201020°N 37.152500°E / 36.201020; 37.152500ArchitectureTypeMosqueCompleted12th centuryMaterialsStone

Al-Qaiqan Mosque (Arabic: جَامِع الْقَيْقَان, romanized: Jāmiʿ al-Qayqān, lit. 'Mosque of the Crows') is one of the oldest surviving mosques in Aleppo, Syria. It is located in the western part of the Ancient City of Aleppo, within the historic walls of the city, to the north of the Gate of Antioch.

History

In ancient times the building was a Hittite pagan temple. It was turned into a mosque during the 12th century. Old carved stones with Hittite inscriptions were used in the construction of the mosque. Two old basalt columns are at the main entrance of the building. On the southern wall of the mosque is a stone block inscribed with Anatolian hieroglyphs.^[1] Both Telipinu and Talmi-Šarruma, descendants of Šuppiluliuma I, are mentioned in the inscription on the south wall of the building.

The mosque was enlarged in 1965 and entirely renovated in 1996.^{[citation needed]}

References

DamascusRif DimashqAleppoHomsHamaIdlib regionRaqqaDaraa regionLatakia region