The Jezzar Pasha Mosque ( Masjid al-Jazzar), also known as the white mosque, is located on al-Jezzar Street, inside the walls of the old city of Acre

Acre, Israel

Acre , is a city in the Western Galilee region of northern Israel at the northern extremity of Haifa Bay. Acre is one of the oldest continuously inhabited sites in the country....

, overlooking the eastern Mediterranean Sea

Mediterranean Sea

The Mediterranean Sea is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean surrounded by the Mediterranean region and almost completely enclosed by land: on the north by Anatolia and Europe, on the south by North Africa, and on the east by the Levant...

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History

The mosque was the project of Acre's Ottoman governor in the late 18th century, Ahmed al-Jezzar (the butcher) Pasha

Jezzar Pasha

Ahmed al-Jazzar was the Ottoman ruler of Acre and the Galilee from 1775 until his death.-Biography:...

, who was equally famous for his cruelty, impressive public works and for defeating Napoleon at the siege of Acre

Siege of Acre (1799)

The Siege of Acre of 1799 was an unsuccessful French siege of the Ottoman-defended, walled city of Acre and was the turning point of Napoleon's invasion of Egypt and Syria.-Background:...

 in 1799. Jezzar Pasha ordered the mosque's construction in 1781 and had it completed within the year; it was built over former Muslim and Christian prayer houses and other Crusader buildings. There is a tughra

Tughra

A tughra is a calligraphic monogram, seal or signature of an Ottoman sultan that was affixed to all official documents and correspondence. It was also carved on his seal and stamped on the coins minted during his reign...

or monogram on a marble disc inside the gate, naming the ruling Sultan, his father and the legend "ever-victorious".

Adjacent to the mosque is a mausoleum and small graveyard containing the tombs of Jezzar Pasha and his successor, Suleiman Pasha

Suleiman Pasha (disambiguation)

Suleiman Pasha may refer to one of the following persons.*Suleyman Pasha , son of Orhan I.*Hadım Suleyman Pasha - Ottoman general; see also Battle of Vaslui*Suleiman pasha in the 16th century....

, and their relatives.

Architecture

The mosque

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...

 is an excellent example of Ottoman architecture, which incorporated both Byzantine

Byzantine Empire

The Byzantine Empire was the Eastern Roman Empire during the periods of Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages, centred on the capital of Constantinople. Known simply as the Roman Empire or Romania to its inhabitants and neighbours, the Empire was the direct continuation of the Ancient Roman State...

 and Persian styles. Some of its fine features include the green dome and minaret

Minaret

A minaret مناره , sometimes مئذنه) is a distinctive architectural feature of Islamic mosques, generally a tall spire with an onion-shaped or conical crown, usually either free standing or taller than any associated support structure. The basic form of a minaret includes a base, shaft, and gallery....

, a green-domed sabil next to its steps (a kiosk

Kiosk

Kiosk is a small, separated garden pavilion open on some or all sides. Kiosks were common in Persia, India, Pakistan, and in the Ottoman Empire from the 13th century onward...

 ,built by Abd al-Hamid II, for dispensing chilled drinking water and beverages) and a large courtyard.

The mosque, that is dominating Acre's skyline, was originally named Masjid al-Anwar (the great mosque of lights) and also known as the white mosque because of its silvery-white dome that glittered at a great distance. The dome is now painted green. The minaret has a winding staircase of 124 steps.

Outside of Jerusalem, it is the largest mosque in Israel

Israel

The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...

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Shahr el Nabi

The mosque houses the Shahr el Nabi (a lock of hair from the beard of Mohammed the Prophet). The Shahr el Nabi was paraded through Acre on Id al-Fitr, ending the fast of Ramadan, it is now only shown to the congregation.