Menüçehr Mosque, Medieval mosque in Ani, Turkey
Menüçehr Mosque is a two-story building with an irregular rectangular shape and rooms topped by vaulted ceilings supported by short columns. Today visitors can see remains of the mihrab wall, portions of the west wall, and a section of the octagonal minaret positioned at the northwest corner.
This building was constructed between 1072 and 1086 by Manuchihr ibn Shavur of the Kurdish Shaddadid dynasty. It holds the distinction of being the first mosque ever built in Anatolia.
The walls display inscriptions in Persian, Georgian, and Armenian text, reflecting the mixed population that lived in medieval Ani. This variety of languages visible on the stone helps visitors understand how diverse communities once coexisted here.
This site is part of the ruins of medieval Ani and requires sturdy footwear to explore safely. Visitors should be prepared for uneven ground and partial structures when walking through the area.
The minaret features stones in two different colors arranged to spell out the word 'bismillah' in Kufic script. The white stones stand out sharply against the darker stone backdrop, demonstrating the skilled craftsmanship of that period.
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