The Ulu Mosque is among the important works of Adana in terms of its size and history. It is understood from the three separate inscriptions of this work, which collects architectural characters from the Seljuk, Mamluk and Ottoman periods, that its construction was first started in 1513 by Ramazan’s son Halil Bey, and that it was completed by Halil Bey’s son Piri Mehmet Pasha in 1541 and opened for worship.
It is known that the entrance on the west side of the main building was built by Halil Bey, son of Ramazan.
The conical roof with stalactites, tapering upwards with a gradual system above the entrance door, bears the characteristics of Seljuk period architecture. This situation occurred in the 16th century. Ramazanoğulları, a small principality in the 16th century, first had a small mosque built here; However, it suggests that today’s building was built due to the growth of the principality and the inadequacy of the mosque.
The courtyard of the Ulu Mosque, which has a rectangular plan close to square and measuring 34.50 x 32.50 meters in its entirety, is entered through two large gates on the west and east. In addition to the main prayer area of the mosque, a part of the courtyard was closed with a wooden covering system and turned into a large final congregation place, considering that the area was warm and more congregations would pray. Color was added to the façade by using black and white marble slabs on the courtyard gate on the east façade and on the facade of the main area of the mosque. The contours of the semi-pointed arches are decorated with stalactite and plant motifs. The main place of worship, which has a transverse rectangular plan, consists of two naves (shahs) with four columns placed parallel to the Qibla wall, and the columns are connected to each other with slightly pointed arches.
With its mihrab surrounded by a border made of black marble on the Qibla wall, it is especially the 16th century mosque that covers the Qibla wall of the mosque. and XVII. The tiles from the 19th century attract attention at first glance.
Adana Ulu Mosque, with its vertical space to the west of the harim in the form of the narthex, influenced some local works such as Adana Hasan Ağa Mosque, Adana Kemeraltı Mosque and Ceyhan Kurtkulığı Village Mosque.
Places to Visit in Adana
Source: Adana Provincial Directorate of Culture and Tourism
Photos: Atatürk Cultural Center Presidency, Grand Mosques of Türkiye 2016, Mustafa Cambaz
Source: Adana Provincial Culture and Tourism Directorate
