Ibrahim Han Mosque
Ibrahim Han Mosque in the fortezza
Religion
AffiliationSunni Islam
DistrictRethymno
ProvinceCrete
Ecclesiastical or organizational statusExhibition center
Location
LocationRethymno, Greece
Ibrahim Han Mosque is located in Greece
Ibrahim Han Mosque
Shown within Greece
Geographic coordinates35°22′21″N 24°28′16″E / 35.37250°N 24.47111°E / 35.37250; 24.47111
Architecture
TypeMosque
Completed1583-5
Specifications
Dome(s)1
Dome dia. (outer)11 m.
Minaret(s)1 (collapsed)
MaterialsStone, brick

The Ibrahim Han Mosque (Greek: Τζαμί του Ιμπραήμ Χαν, from Turkish: İbrahim Han Camii), also known as the Sultan Ibrahim Mosque (Greek: Τζαμί του Σουλτάνου Ιμπραήμ), is a historical Ottoman mosque in the town of Rethymno, on the island of Crete, in southern Greece. Situated inside the old fortezza of Rethymno, the mosque was originally built as a church by the Venetians but converted into a mosque following the island's conquest at the hands of the Ottomans. Today it functions as an exhibition center.

History

The mihrab inside.

It was built as a Christian church by the Venetians around 1583–5, as the town's cathedral dedicated to Saint Nicholas.[1] The Venetians transferred the cathedral seat to the fortezza after the previous church was completely destroyed[2] during the 1571 invasion.[3] In 1585, the successor bishop Carrara refused to hold masses in the church, claiming that it was not adequately equipped and the space was too narrow.[3]

Very shortly after the town of Rethymno was conquered by the Ottomans, the church was converted into a mosque dedicated to Sultan Ibrahim I in 1648, with a large, imposing dome added to it.[1][4] The complaed became property of the city of Rethymno in 1971; it was restored between 2002 and 2004 by the Ephorate of Byzantine Antiquities, and now it is used as an exhibition center.[5]

Architecture

The mosque's dome is 11 metres in diameter, and rests on eight arches.[3][1] Today, the spherical triangles formed in the corners from the arches on its four walls can still be seen, and so does the arch above the entrance.[2] Furthermore, the mihrab with its elaborate relief designs and the base of the demolished minaret inside the building are also still visible.[2] The minaret, which once stood on the northwestern corner of the church/mosque,[3] collapsed at the beginning of the twentieth century, and was never rebuilt.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 Katsipoulaki 2009, p. 21.
  2. 1 2 3 "Τζαμί του Ιμπραήμ Χαν Φορτέτσα" [Mosque of Ibrahim Han Fortezza]. thisiscrete.gr (in Greek). Retrieved November 22, 2023.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "The Mosque of Ibrahim Han". tour.rethymno.gr. Archived from the original on 16 October 2015.
  4. ↑ Kivernitaki, Maria; Samatas, Yannis. "Fortezza in Rethymnon". Explore Crete. Archived from the original on 1 April 2015.
  5. ↑ Kolovos 2015, p. 243.

Bibliography

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