Ottoman period

Articles: Ottoman period

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Arabahmet Mosque (Nicosia), Cyprus

Arabahmet Mosque (Nicosia), Cyprus

Arabahmet Mosque is a 16th-century Ottoman mosque located in the Arab Ahmet Quarter of Nicosia. Built in the late 1500s shortly after the Ottoman conquest of Cyprus in 1571, the mosque was named after Arab Ahmet Pasha, one of the commanders who led the Ottoman army during the invasion. He also served as Governor General of Rhodes. shutterstock-com The mosque is the only one in Cyprus to feature typical Turkish-style domes. A large central dome about 6 meters across covers the main prayer hall, three smaller domes protect the entrance porch, and four more tiny domes sit at the building's corners. This design follows the classical Anatolian style of placing a dome on a square building. Historical Background Arab Ahmet…

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Ottoman Era Mosques Urban Architecture Cyprus

Ottoman Era Mosques Urban Architecture Cyprus

Ottoman architecture in Cyprus refers to the Islamic buildings and urban structures constructed or adapted during Ottoman rule from 1571 to 1878. This three century period significantly reshaped the physical appearance of Cypriot cities, especially Nicosia and Famagusta. The Ottomans introduced architectural forms developed in Istanbul and Anatolia, including domed mosques, hans or caravanserais, hammams or bathhouses, covered markets, and medrese schools. wikimedia.org Unlike other Ottoman territories where Islamic architecture replaced earlier structures, Cyprus presented a distinct situation. The Ottomans inherited large scale Gothic buildings from the Lusignan and Venetian periods, particularly cathedrals that were too monumental to demolish. Instead of destroying these structures, Ottoman authorities converted them for Islamic use through the addition of minarets, the removal of Christian…

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Büyük Han Nicosia Ottoman Caravanserai Cyprus

Büyük Han Nicosia Ottoman Caravanserai Cyprus

In the center of the Turkish-occupied part of Nicosia’s Old City stands a building that has had many lives. It has been a merchant’s inn, a prison, a home for displaced families, and today it is a lively cultural center. Built in 1572, just two years after the Ottomans took over Cyprus, Büyük Han is the largest and best example of caravanserai architecture on the island. visitncy-com The building is almost square, measuring 50.67 by 45.25 meters, and has 68 rooms on two floors arranged around a central courtyard. It was originally built for traveling merchants and traders who connected Cyprus with Anatolia, the Levant, and beyond. Büyük Han is considered one of the best surviving examples of Ottoman architecture…

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