陌sa Bey Mosque, Ephesus (must see)
The 陌sa Bey Mosque, built in 1375 by the order of 陌sa Bey of the Ayd谋no臒ullar谋 Emirate, is one of the finest and oldest examples of Anatolian mosque architecture in Turkey. Located in Ayasoluk, at the base of the hill that holds Ayasoluk Castle and the Basilica of St. John, the mosque draws architectural inspiration from both Seljuk and early Ottoman styles. Designed by the Syrian architect Ali ibn al-Dimashqi, the structure measures approximately 51 by 57 meters and features an asymmetrical layout鈥攗ncommon for mosques of its time. Much of its construction material, including columns and stones, was repurposed from nearby ancient ruins such as those at Ephesus and the Temple of Artemis, linking the Islamic monument to the region鈥檚 classical past.
The mosque originally had two minarets, although only one survives today, the other having been destroyed by an earthquake. Its western fa莽ade, crafted from carefully cut limestone and marble, stands out for its decorative richness and serves as the main entrance. The monumental western doorway is adorned with intricate moldings and an Arabic inscription. Inside, a colonnaded courtyard featuring twelve columns once surrounded a central fountain used for ritual ablution. Three entrances lead to this courtyard, with the eastern and western gates also serving as the bases for the original twin minarets. The interior prayer hall is divided into two aisles, cut by a central transept with domes supported by pendentives, echoing the layout of the Great Mosque of Damascus鈥攁 nod to the architect鈥檚 Syrian heritage.
The domes of the mosque are embellished with elements characteristic of Seljuk and early Ottoman design, including stalactite (muqarnas) window moldings, turquoise and blue faience tiles, and mosaics. One of the mosque鈥檚 most distinctive features is its asymmetry: the placement of windows, domes, and doors was purposefully unbalanced, creating a dynamic, non-linear aesthetic.
Despite falling into disrepair over the centuries, the mosque was restored in 1934 and again in 1970 and 2005, allowing it to continue functioning as an active place of worship. Today, 陌sa Bey Mosque not only serves as a religious site but also as a testament to the architectural and cultural convergence that defines the region.
The mosque originally had two minarets, although only one survives today, the other having been destroyed by an earthquake. Its western fa莽ade, crafted from carefully cut limestone and marble, stands out for its decorative richness and serves as the main entrance. The monumental western doorway is adorned with intricate moldings and an Arabic inscription. Inside, a colonnaded courtyard featuring twelve columns once surrounded a central fountain used for ritual ablution. Three entrances lead to this courtyard, with the eastern and western gates also serving as the bases for the original twin minarets. The interior prayer hall is divided into two aisles, cut by a central transept with domes supported by pendentives, echoing the layout of the Great Mosque of Damascus鈥攁 nod to the architect鈥檚 Syrian heritage.
The domes of the mosque are embellished with elements characteristic of Seljuk and early Ottoman design, including stalactite (muqarnas) window moldings, turquoise and blue faience tiles, and mosaics. One of the mosque鈥檚 most distinctive features is its asymmetry: the placement of windows, domes, and doors was purposefully unbalanced, creating a dynamic, non-linear aesthetic.
Despite falling into disrepair over the centuries, the mosque was restored in 1934 and again in 1970 and 2005, allowing it to continue functioning as an active place of worship. Today, 陌sa Bey Mosque not only serves as a religious site but also as a testament to the architectural and cultural convergence that defines the region.
Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Ephesus. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "黑料吃瓜网: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.
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陌sa Bey Mosque on Map
Sight Name: 陌sa Bey Mosque
Sight Location: Ephesus, Turkey (See walking tours in Ephesus)
Sight Type: Religious
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Ephesus, Turkey (See walking tours in Ephesus)
Sight Type: Religious
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Ephesus, Turkey
Create Your Own Walk in Ephesus
Creating your own self-guided walk in Ephesus is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Ephesus Introduction Walking Tour
Ephesus, the most important Greek city in Ionian Asia Minor, the ruins of which lie near the modern village of Sel茍uk in western Turkey. Ephesus is one of the largest and most impressive ancient cities in the world and is one of T眉rkiye鈥檚 most significant ancient cities. Its cultural and historical significance was highlighted in its addition to the UNESCO World Heritage Site list in 2015. The... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.0 Km or 0.6 Miles
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.0 Km or 0.6 Miles
Selcuk Introduction Walking Tour
Sel莽uk is a town near Izmir, in western Turkey. It鈥檚 the gateway to Ephesus, a vast, ancient city with the remains of a large theater and the Library of Celsus. South is the House of Virgin Mary, a domed chapel and religious shrine. Near Sel莽uk, a marble column is one of a few remains of the Temple of Artemis. The Ephesus Museum has more items from the temple, plus other artifacts excavated... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.3 Km or 2.1 Miles
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.3 Km or 2.1 Miles