Gjirokastër Mosque
Encyclopedia
Gjirokastër Mosque also known as the Bazaar Mosque , is a mosque
located in Gjirokastër
, Albania
. The mosque was built in 1757. and is located in the Old Bazaar neighbourhood. It is one of fifteen mosques originally built in the city during the Ottoman era
, of which thirteen survived till the communist period.
The mosque was originally designed to be located in the New Bazaar neighbourhood of Gjirokastër, as part of Memi Pasha's urban plan, that was built in the 17th century. It was, however, destroyed by fire in the following century, with the exception of the mosque.
The mosque was elevated to "Cultural Monument" (Monumente Kulturore) status by the Albanian government in 1973, sparing its destruction by the totalitarian communist regime of Albania. The remaining twelve mosques were subsequently demolished. Because of a religion ban in Albania, the mosque was used as a training hall for circus acrobats who made use of the high domed ceilings to hang their trapezes.
Nearby the mosque is a two-story octagonal building, constructed in 1727. Although originally used as a Bektashi
cemevi
, it was closed down during the communist period. It is currently used as a madrasah
.
Mosque
A mosque is a place of worship for followers of Islam. The word is likely to have entered the English language through French , from Portuguese , from Spanish , and from Berber , ultimately originating in — . The Arabic word masjid literally means a place of prostration...
located in Gjirokastër
Gjirokastër
Gjirokastër is a city in southern Albania with a population of 43,000. Lying in the historical region of Epirus, it is the capital of both the Gjirokastër District and the larger Gjirokastër County...
, Albania
Albania
Albania , officially known as the Republic of Albania , is a country in Southeastern Europe, in the Balkans region. It is bordered by Montenegro to the northwest, Kosovo to the northeast, the Republic of Macedonia to the east and Greece to the south and southeast. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea...
. The mosque was built in 1757. and is located in the Old Bazaar neighbourhood. It is one of fifteen mosques originally built in the city during the Ottoman era
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
, of which thirteen survived till the communist period.
The mosque was originally designed to be located in the New Bazaar neighbourhood of Gjirokastër, as part of Memi Pasha's urban plan, that was built in the 17th century. It was, however, destroyed by fire in the following century, with the exception of the mosque.
The mosque was elevated to "Cultural Monument" (Monumente Kulturore) status by the Albanian government in 1973, sparing its destruction by the totalitarian communist regime of Albania. The remaining twelve mosques were subsequently demolished. Because of a religion ban in Albania, the mosque was used as a training hall for circus acrobats who made use of the high domed ceilings to hang their trapezes.
Nearby the mosque is a two-story octagonal building, constructed in 1727. Although originally used as a Bektashi
Bektashism
Bektashi Order or Bektashism is an Islamic Sufi order founded in the 13th century by the Persian saint Haji Bektash Veli. In addition to the spiritual teachings of Haji Bektash Veli the order was significantly influenced during its formative period by both the Hurufis as well as the...
cemevi
Cemevi
A Cemevi means literally a house of gathering in Turkish, and is a place of fundamental importance for Turkey's Alevi-Bektashi populations and traditions. It is not a place of worship in the strict sense of the term; the accent is laid on its aspect as lieu of assemblage...
, it was closed down during the communist period. It is currently used as a madrasah
Madrasah
Madrasah is the Arabic word for any type of educational institution, whether secular or religious...
.