Mosque of Ala ad-Din - Seljuk Period - Arts and Architecture

 Mosque of Ala ad-Din - Seljuk Period 

Ala ad-Din Mosque is the earliest structure built at the Seljuk capital. Mosque of Ala ad-Din situated in Konya, Turkey. The construction of the Mosque began during the period of Sultan Masud I and was completed during the period of the sultan Ala-ad Din keykubad.

The Mosque of Ala ad-Din was constructed in the stage between the 12th and mid 13th centuries in Seljuk Periods. The Architect of the Mosque was Muhammad bin Halvan al -Dimsiki.

 Mosque of Ala ad-Din Features:

• The mosque has two prayer halls.
• Towards the north, the prayer hall is a wide courtyard.
• To the western part of the south, where QIbla is located, is thicker than the eastern part.
• The eastern part of the prayer hall has seven aisles isolated by six rows of columns that are unique from one another.
• Both western and eastern regions of the prayer hall have columns that are connected by pointed arches and both are covered with a flat roof.
  
• The western part of the mosque has significantly more irregular design because columns were added to the west of the bay in front of the Mihrab, simply like the case of the east of the mosque, where the irregularity of the piers also points to repairs.
• Traces of brick arches observed in the east and west walls in a north-south direction give the impression that these walls were shaped by closing off arches.
• The present horizontal lines of arches sometimes end at piers or sometimes in the middle of arches on the west and east.
  
• This is viewed as a sign that the eastern part had aisles running perpendicular to the Qibla wall.
• There is two gateway at the north end of the mosque.
• The pointed arch of the eastern portal is mounted by a knotwork motif in bi-colored marble.
  

• The facade and the columns nices on it were built during the reign of Ala-ad din keykubad I.
• The wooden minbar, executed using the Kund e Kari technique.
• The Mihrab decorated in tile mosaic.

• This is a complicated building because of the numerous additions and repairs.
• There are two monumental tombs in the courtyard. 
• One was built during the reign of Kilic Arslan II. And the other one was built during the reign of keykavus I.
• The structure was initially worked as a mosque and is still used as a place of worship

  Stay connected to know more about the Arts and Architecture. Thank you.