Arakiyeci Mehmed Ağa Mosque, Ottoman mosque in Fatih, Turkey
The Arakiyeci Mehmed Ağa Mosque is a place of worship in Istanbul's Fatih district with white walls and eleven windows inscribed with the names of Prophet Muhammad's companions. The interior is organized with separate sections for men and women, along with facilities for ritual ablution.
The building was first constructed in 1520 as a wooden structure before undergoing major reconstruction using reinforced concrete between 1951 and 1958. This modernization preserved the site's original purpose while adapting it for contemporary needs.
The prayer hall contains a wooden pulpit and a plaster prayer niche decorated with tiles that reach up toward the top of the walls.
The building has separate sections for men and women, with ablution facilities available near the entrance for visitors. The layout is straightforward, making it easy to find your way around the space.
The founder, Arakiyeci Mehmet Ağa, is buried in a tomb directly in front of the prayer niche, creating an unusual connection between the building's creator and its most sacred spot. This placement reflects a tradition where important figures were honored within the spaces they established.
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