Gülbahar Hatun Mosque

Gülbahar Hâtûn Mosque or Büyük İmaret Mosque or Hâtûniye Mosque is a mosque built in 1514 in Trabzon by Ottoman sultan Yavuz Sultan Selim in the name of his mother Gülbahar Hatun.

History

Gülbahar Hatun Mosque is located south of Atapark in the neighborhood named after it. Over time it formed a complex with the surrounding madrasa, imaret, school, darü'l‑kurra and tomb. Today the others have been demolished and only the tomb on its east side remains standing.

It was commissioned by Yavuz Sultan Selim in the first quarter of the 16th century (1514) in memory of his mother Gülbahar Hatun. At the time it was part of a large complex that also included madrasa, school, imaret and bathhouse buildings. As a valuable Ottoman lady who appears to have had many endowments for public service, this complex, like many of her other endowments, has not survived to the present day except for the remaining structures.

Architecture

The mosque consists of a rear prayer hall covered by five small domes, a main prayer hall covered by a large single dome, and a harem section covered by a dome, as well as a vaulted cell on the east and west. The capitals of the marble columns in the rear prayer hall feature stylized baklava motifs. The mihrab and minbar are also made of marble; the minbar is simply crafted. The mihrab includes vegetal decoration and a muqarnas niche.

Inscription

The inscription above the entrance gate states that the mosque was repaired in 1885. The well‑preserved interior decorations must also date from that period. It is one of the famous mosques of Trabzon. The mosque is currently located in Atapark. It is recognized in Trabzon as a gathering place for the public.