Silahtar Ömer Pasha Mosque

Silahtar Ömer Pasha Mosque, located in the town of Akça in the Erbaa district of Tokat Province, Turkey, built of wood and cut stone without any nails thanks to the "Çandı Technique", owned by the General Directorate of Foundations and still in use.

Construction date

Since the construction inscription of the mosque has not survived to the present day, there are differing opinions on dating. The first opinion, based on the presence of a deer‑skin plaque in the mosque bearing the date H.1087/M.1676 and architectural features reflecting the understanding of that period, holds that the mosque is an Ottoman work from the second half of the 17th century. The second opinion states that the mosque is a Seljuk work built in 1082 and has undergone renovations at different times. Because of the gifts given to the mosque by Silahdar Ömer Pasha, who served as governor and vizier in various cities in the 17th century, and the dates inscribed on those gifts, the foundation date is mistakenly thought to be the 17th century.

Architectural features

Despite the simpler appearance of the exterior, the interior design draws attention with its richness. The architectural features of the mosque are as follows:

It has Seljuk stone and tile decoration.

Wood and paint decoration are present.

It is built with cut stone and brick.

It is surrounded by an ornate door and wooden arch.

It has a wooden ceiling and four wooden support columns.

The mihrab and minbar are a synthesis of 11th‑century Turkish art with Seljuk patterns and forms.

The ceiling, decorated with tiles and paint, shows hexagons, intersecting shapes in the dome, and hanging reliefs.

Renovation in the Ottoman period

It is noted that a foundation was established in 1707 for the repair of the mosque. In addition, during examinations a piece of tile was found bearing the date 18 September 1278 (1862). On two copper candlesticks in the mosque it is written that Silahtar Ömer Pasha endowed the candlesticks to the mosque in 1688. In this case the mosque can be considered to have been built on or before that date. It is valuable as a wooden‑intensive mosque in Anatolia that has retained its original structure.