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Dick Osseman | all galleries >> Isparta >> Kutlubey Camii aka Ulu Camii > Isparta 18062012_2457.jpg
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18-Jun-2012 Dick Osseman

Isparta 18062012_2457.jpg

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The Kutlubey Camii (also named ‘Ulu Cami’ = Great Mosque) was built in 1429 by the Ottoman commander Kutlubey, in replacement of a Seljuk mosque that had collapsed. It became the most important mosque of the town, from which the yearly pilgrimage caravan to Mecca took off.
This new mosque had to be rebuilt several times, altering the original architecture. The present building dates mainly from the beginning of the 20th century. After the earthquake of 1914, important new repairs were needed (1926). A last restoration happened in 1990/91.

On the picture: The ‘mihrab’ and the ‘minber’.
Mihrab = a semicircular niche in the wall of a mosque that indicates the direction of the Kaaba in Mecca and hence the direction that Muslims should face when praying. The wall in which a mihrab appears is the "qibla wall."
Minber = a pulpit in the mosque where the imam (prayer leader) stands to deliver sermons.
The presence of a minber is essential for an Islamic house of prayer to be called ‘cami’ (= Friday mosque). In the absence of a minber, the house is prayer is unfit for the solemn Friday prayer and is called ‘mescit’ (= small mosque).

Correspondent: J.M.Criel, Antwerpen.
Sources: M.Baki Atış, Isparta & Wikipedia.

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