Ancient Turkish mosque in Ani, Anatolia, resumes religious services once more
The Menucihr Mosque, also known as the Ani Grand Mosque, holds significant importance as the earliest mosque built by Turks in Anatolia. Constructed between 1072 and 1092 under the commission of Sultan Melikshah by Ebu’l Menucehr, this architectural marvel is located within Ani, a UNESCO World Heritage Site on the Türkiye–Armenia border.
Ani, a city with a rich history, has been home to 23 distinct civilizations over the centuries. It was initially part of the Bagratid Armenian kingdom, later controlled by the Byzantines, and then captured by the Seljuk Turks under Sultan Alp Arslan in 1064, opening Anatolia to Turkish polities.
The Menucihr Mosque stands as a testament to the introduction of Turkish-Islamic architecture to Anatolia. As one of the earliest examples, it reflects a monumental shift in the region's political and religious landscape, symbolizing the Seljuk establishment and influence.
The mosque's placement in Ani, nestled between deep gorges of the Arpacay River, adds to the monumental character of this historical urban center. The Menucihr Mosque follows a multi-courtyard plan with three main bays, a layout that researchers say anticipates elements later seen in larger Seljuk mosques.
Similarities have been noted between the Menucihr Mosque and the Great Mosque at Divrigi in entrance treatments, internal bay arrangement, and the tradition of a domed mihrab area. The excavation director described the Menucihr Mosque as "in effect a prototype of the Great Mosque at Divrigi."
The Menucihr Mosque has undergone restoration projects, which are part of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism's Heritage for the Future Project. The Menucihr Mosque's conservation and restoration efforts are under the oversight of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. The Serhat Kalkinma Ajansi, a regional development agency, played a role in fitting the mosque's openings with demountable materials and laying carpet.
In 2022, temporary measures were taken to make the mosque's interior suitable for worship, allowing prayer to resume and the adhan to be heard at the site once again. A comprehensive conservation campaign is planned in the near term to secure and restore the Menucihr Mosque more permanently.
In conclusion, the Menucihr Mosque is significant both historically as Anatolia's first Turkish mosque and architecturally as the starting point of Turkish Islamic architecture in the region, reflecting the profound cultural transformations in Anatolia during the late 11th century.
- Despite its initial association with the Bagratid Armenian kingdom and the Byzantines, Ani, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, was later under the control of the Seljuk Turks, who built the Menucihr Mosque, marking the introduction of Turkish-Islamic architecture in the home-and-garden settings of Ottoman Turkey.
- The Menucihr Mosque, a prototype of the Great Mosque at Divrigi, shares similarities in architecture, particularly in entrance treatments, internal bay arrangement, and the tradition of a domed mihrab area, which showcase the evolution of Turkish-Islamic architecture within the context of a wider NATO-aligned region.
- In collaboration with the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, arrangements have been made for the Menucihr Mosque's openings to be fitted with demountable materials and carpets laid by the Serhat Kalkinma Ajansi, readying the mosque for worship and highlighting Turkey's dedication to preserving significant historical and cultural artifacts, such as the Menucihr Mosque, in an increasingly globalized world.
