Grand Mosque

Akhisar Ulu Camii, located in the district of Akhisar in Manisa province, is a mosque from the Ottoman period. The building, estimated to have been constructed in the late 15th century, is one of the early examples of centrally planned mosque searches. It is thought that the area where the building stands was previously a Byzantine-era church and that the mosque was built on the ruins of that structure.

History

Since the construction inscription of Akhisar Ulu Camii is not found, the exact construction date is unknown. However, considering the architectural elements, plan layout, used material and decorations, the building is accepted to be dated to the last quarter of the 15th century.

That the area where the mosque stands was previously a basilica-plan church is understood from some architectural traces. The outward‑projecting cradle‑vaulted niches on the south façade are thought to belong to the nave of the old church, and the semicircular foundation remains on the east wall are thought to belong to the church’s apse.

The four marble columns in the interior were taken from Byzantine structures dating between the 11th and 14th centuries and were shaped with the craftsmanship known as “clustered column.” This shows that the mosque was created both as a new building and by re‑functioning the existing building remains.

After the conquest of Akhisar, this building, the first large‑scale mosque in the city, was evaluated as part of a complex together with the surrounding darülkurra, darülhadis, school and tekke. Of these structures, only the mosque and a small tomb to its east have survived to the present day.

The tombstones in the tomb are dated from 1488 to 1918. This indicates that the area around the mosque was actively used for centuries.

The mosque underwent restoration during the reign of Abdul Hamid II (late 19th century). The mihrab and dome decorations reflect the artistic sensibility of this period. In the 1913 earthquake, the lattice and cap parts of the mosque's minaret were destroyed, and these sections were later rebuilt.

Architectural features

Akhisar Ulu Camii consists of a square‑plan prayer hall, a minaret located to the northeast, and a rear prayer area attached to the eastern façade. The main worship space is covered by a large central dome with an octagonal drum. This dome rests on large arches oriented east‑west and is supported on the sides by units with three small domes each.

The east and west façades feature windows adorned with round arches and plaster moldings. The south façade is a single wall built of unplastered stone blocks. The rear prayer area is a structure with a broken roof supported by 13 wooden columns.

The minaret sits on a square base and transitions to a cylindrical shaft with a Turkish triangle. The shaft, which has a interlaced lattice system, was damaged in the 1913 earthquake and its upper part was later renewed.

The projection of the mihrab is prominent and is decorated with a plaster curtain motif. Acanthus‑leaf ornaments, the crescent and star are the main decorative elements in the mihrab. The pulpit’s pavilion and cap are wooden and embellished with rose medallions. Pen‑style decorations are also seen on the dome drum and between the windows.

The women's gallery rests on four devşirme marble columns. These columns belong to the Byzantine period and are of the “knotted column” type. The columns may have been taken from ancient structures around Akhisar or directly from the remains of an old church.

In the cemetery located east of the mosque there are 67 tombstones and five sarcophagi. The tombstones generally feature cypress trees, vases, candlesticks, lanterns, the tree of life and Rumi motifs. Some tombstones also show civil architectural depictions and mosque motifs.