Emir Munzer Mosque, Ottoman mosque in Central District, Lebanon
The Emir Munzer Mosque is a mosque located in central Beirut featuring a prayer hall with pointed arches supported by Roman granite columns and topped with a Mamluk-style octagonal minaret. The structure combines ancient stone elements with Islamic architectural traditions in a single vertical composition.
The structure was built in 1620 by Governor Emir Munzer Al-Tannoukhi as a center of religious life in the growing city. Major reconstruction work took place in 1749 under the Shihab dynasty and again in the early 2000s to restore damage from decades of conflict.
The mosque serves as a place for daily prayers and religious gatherings in the heart of downtown Beirut. Visitors can observe how the space remains active in the spiritual life of the community.
The mosque can be entered through two different doors: one original portal from the 17th century facing the old market quarter and another entrance with three arches on the main street. Keep in mind that certain areas are reserved during prayer times.
Eight Roman granite columns from ancient times stand in the courtyard, showing how builders reused old stone blocks in this Islamic structure. This practice of incorporating ancient materials reflects the layered history of Beirut and the creative building methods used over centuries.
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