MARDIN: Grand Mosque (Ulu Camii)

The Mardin Grand Mosque (Ulu Camii) is an iconic symbol of Mardin, featuring a sliced dome and a minaret, and is believed to have been constructed during the Artuqid period. The mosque was originally built with two minarets, but currently, only one remains. The minaret with the inscription denotes the building's date as 1176, although it has undergone renovations since then. It is worth noting that some Assyrian authors assert that the mosque was converted from a church, indicating the possibility of a Christian site's existence before its construction.
Built-in the 12th century, the mosque embodies the fundamental characteristics of Artuqid Period architecture. The mosque's design reflects the typical mosque plan and form that originated in the 11th century, featuring an arch facing Mecca and positioned to one side.
The Mardin Grand Mosque is constructed using cut stones shaped using the external fluting technique, believed to be one of the first buildings in which this technique was used. It later became a vital tradition in Mardin's architecture, featuring in many of the region's buildings during the Artuqid era. The mosque has a rectangular courtyard situated on its northern side, while on the southern end of the courtyard, a set of three vaulted naves arranged parallel to the wall form a mihrab. The design of the mihrab has been replicated and used in many other buildings in the vicinity.
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