Emir Assaf Mosque, Ottoman mosque in downtown Beirut, Lebanon.
The Emir Assaf Mosque is a house of worship with a square footprint topped by five domes arranged across its roof. The entrance displays an alternating pattern of light and dark stone that frames the doorway.
This mosque was founded in 1597 by Emir Mansur Assaf on a site where a Byzantine church had previously stood. Its location in central Beirut made it an important place of worship for centuries.
The prayer hall uses Roman columns to support its central dome, showing how different periods of construction are layered into the space. Visitors notice how these ancient elements sit within the later Ottoman structure.
The mosque operates according to daily prayer schedules, and visitors should dress respectfully before entering. Shoes must be removed and proper conduct is expected in the prayer areas.
The ablution rooms were added in 1934 and align precisely with the street leading to Etoile Square. This arrangement reveals how the structure was woven into the city's urban layout over time.
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