Valide Mosque, Mytilene

39°06′42.8″N 26°33′15.0″E / 39.111889°N 26.554167°E / 39.111889; 26.554167ArchitectureStyleOttoman architecture

The Valide Mosque (Greek: Βαλιδέ Τζαμί, from Turkish: Valide Camii, lit. 'Mosque of the Valide Sultan') is a historical mosque in Mytilene, on the island of Lesbos in Greece.

Description

The mosque is located in the old Turkish quarter of the city, Epano Skala.^[1] According to its founder's inscription above its entrance, it was built in 1615, making it one of the oldest mosques in the island.^[1]

It is built of stone masonry, and comprises a single level, with a pitched roof. A stone-paved courtyard once existed with a marble fountain, accessed through a marble staircase. The interior decoration was in coloured frescos, which were covered by a dark colour after the Muslim population left the island. The c. 6 metres (20 ft) high mihrab featured stucco decoration.^[1] The Arabic-style minaret is constructed from red stone quarried in Ayvalık, and is almost entirely preserved apart from a portion of its top.^[2]

The building and its minaret were designated as protected monuments by the Greek Ministry of Culture in 1981, but have not been restored.^[2] In early 2018, 1.2 million euros were designated for restoration work of the building, under the supervision of the Lesbos Ephorate of Antiquities.^[2]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c Loupou, Athina-Christina. "Βαλιδέ Τζαμί Μυτιλήνης" (in Greek). Hellenic Ministry of Culture. Retrieved 2 December 2018.
^ ^a ^b ^c "Αναστήλωση του Βαλιδέ Τζαμί, του παλαιότερου οθωμανικού τεμένους στην Μυτιλήνη" (in Greek). Kathimerini. 20 March 2018. Retrieved 2 December 2018.