King Mosque, Berat

King Mosque
Xhamia e Mbretit
King Mosque, Berat in 2024
Religion
AffiliationIslam
Ecclesiastical or organisational statusMosque
StatusActive
Location
LocationBerat, Berat County
CountryAlbania
Location of the mosque in Albania
Interactive map of King Mosque
Coordinates40°42′20″N 19°57′08″E / 40.7056°N 19.9521°E / 40.7056; 19.9521
Architecture
TypeIslamic architecture
StyleOttoman
FounderBayezid II
Completed1492 CE
Official nameKing Mosque, Berat
Designated1948
Reference no.BR462

The King Mosque (Albanian: Xhamia e Mbretit or Xhamia e Hynqarit), also known as the Sultan's Mosque (Xhamia e Sulltanit) or Sultan Bayezid Mosque, is a mosque located in Berat City, Berat County, Albania. Completed in 1492 CE, the mosque was designated as a Cultural Monument of Albania in 1948.[1]

Overview

The mosque in was first built in 1492, but it was almost completely destroyed during the Ottoman campaign against the Albanian revolts of 1830–31. Ottoman commander Reshid Pasha, whose artillery caused the damage, had the mosque rebuilt from the ground up, following older local architectural traditions. The result is one of Albania’s largest mosques, featuring a portico larger than the prayer hall and an innovative system of ten shallow domes with octagonal wooden inlays, richly decorated with geometric and calligraphic designs, including a band listing the 99 Names of Allah. A women’s gallery on the north side enhances the hall’s spatial character. In 1967 the portico was altered and the minaret demolished, but both were later restored according to the original plans.[2]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Religious buildings with the "Culture Monument" status". Republic of Albania National Committee for Cult. Archived from the original on July 6, 2011. Retrieved October 28, 2010.
  2. ^ Zindel, Christian; Lippert, Andreas; Lahi, Bashkim; Kiel, Machiel (2018). Albanien: Ein Archäologie- und Kunstführer von der Steinzeit bis ins 19. Jahrhundert (in German). Vandenhoeck & Rupreht. p. 293.

Media related to King Mosque in Berat at Wikimedia Commons