Sivas Mosque, 12th century mosque in Sivas, Turkey
Sivas Mosque is a 12th century prayer house with eleven separate prayer halls arranged in ten rows of pointed arches. These arches rest on stone columns and piers that structure the entire interior space.
The building was constructed in 1196 and 1197 under Kızılarslan ibn Ibrahim during the reign of Qutbuddin Malik Shah in Anatolia. A brick minaret was added later, expanding the architectural features of the complex.
The prayer halls display early Anatolian architectural traditions with rectangular floor plans and wooden ceilings that reflect local construction methods. Visitors can observe how stone walls and wooden beams work together to shape the space for prayer and daily worship.
The main entrance on the north side leads through a wooden porch into an open courtyard that preserves elements from the original construction. Visitors should be aware that respectful behavior is expected at this active place of worship.
The minaret was constructed in 1213 and contains a spiraling staircase with 114 steps that winds toward the top. The structure has shifted over the centuries and leans noticeably to one side today.
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