Sarshahar mosque

Sarshahar Mosque — a mosque and historical-architectural monument located in the Sarshahar neighborhood of the city of Ordubad, Republic of Azerbaijan.

The mosque, belonging to the 18th century, was included in the list of locally significant immovable historical and cultural monuments by the decision No. 132 of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Azerbaijan dated August 2, 2001.

History

Not only in terms of richness with mosques, Ordubad city, which occupies one of the earliest places in Nakhchivan region and in Azerbaijan as a whole, has Sarshahar Mosque as one of its main mosques. The mosque is called so because it is located in the center of Sarshahar neighborhood, which is one of the large and main neighborhoods of the city. The word “Sarshahar” means “the head, the center of the city”. More ancient buildings are encountered in this neighborhood. In the early 18th century, one of the neighborhoods of the Ordubad settlement, which belonged to the Azadciran area of the Nakhchivan banner, was called Sarshahar neighborhood as it is called today.

Architectural structure

Sarshahar Mosque is situated on the north side of the central square of the neighborhood. Its foundation is made of river stone, the upper part is built of raw brick, and its façade is faced with baked brick.

The Sarshahr mosque is square in plan and consists of two floors. The first floor of the mosque is intended for men, the second floor for women. The second floor and the mosque roof are accessed by a winding staircase on the west side. The mosque, whose external appearance is fairly attractive, has a ceiling made of wood and veneer, and the floor is made of wood. The ceiling rests on six wooden columns and on the walls. The mosque’s lattice windows give it a special beauty. In front of it there is a large square. A huge oak tree rises in the square. In the second floor of the mosque there is a library. Religious books and manuscripts are kept here. The number of manuscript works is more than 30. The mosque was restored and repaired in 1986, and the square was arranged as a complex. The floor is wood, the ceiling is made of wood and veneer. The ceiling rests on six wooden columns and on the walls. The mosque’s lattice windows open onto the square in front of it. As for the renewed repair and restoration work, it was repaired in 1986. After restoration the mosque is used as a neighborhood mosque.

History

The Sarshahr mosque is located on the north side of the center of the Sarshahr neighborhood. Those who pay attention to its typological features and architectural style consider the mosque to belong to the 18th century. The mosque is also assigned to the 18th century because it reflects the stylistic and typological features characteristic of the XVIII century in architecture.