Great Mosque of Mardin

Mardin Ulu Camii, an architectural example from the Artukid period, is a historic mosque located in the center of Mardin. When built, the structure had two minarets and was made of cut stone. The mosque dome is a segmented structure formed by an external ribbing technique. This architectural style later became a tradition in Mardin architecture. The building expands longitudinally, with the dome in front of the mihrab. The rectangular courtyard is located to the north of the mosque.

The present minaret was constructed on a square base in 1888/1889. The mosque, which has sixteen bays, was commissioned by Diyarbekir Meliki II. Kutbettin Ilgazi according to the inscription dated 1176 on the minaret. According to the inscription in the courtyard, it was commissioned by Hüsameddin Yavlak Arslan of the Artukids in 1186. The mosque was damaged during Timur's invasion, and the collapsed minaret was repaired during the Mamluk and Akkoyunlu periods.

The mosque underwent renovations by the Ottomans in 1764-65, 1870, 1886 and 1889. Recently, it was repaired in 1967-68 and finally in 2010-12 (see: inscription). The Sakal-ı Şerif inside the wall to the left of the mihrab is visited by the public.