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Gurgi Mosque | |
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جامع قرجي | |
Religion | |
Affiliation | Islam |
Branch/tradition | Sunni |
Location | |
Location | Tripoli, Libya |
Geographic coordinates | 32°53′58″N 13°10′32″E / 32.89944°N 13.17556°E |
Architecture | |
Type | mosque |
Style | Ottoman |
Completed | 1834 |
The Gurgi Mosque ( Arabic: جامع قرجي) is a mosque in Tripoli, Libya. It lies in the heart of old Tripoli (the medina) as part of a complex of historic buildings. The mosque is an important tourist attraction, as is the area as a whole; nearby is the Roman Arch of Marcus Aurelius. [1]
The mosque was commissioned by Mustafa Gurgi and built in 1834. Tripoli then was under Ottoman ruler Pasha Yusuf Karamanli, [1] whose reign extended from 1795 to 1832.The Gurgi Mosque was built by the command of the naval captain Mustafa Gurgi. [1] Gurgi is an Arabic word which means "from Georgia". [2] To the right of the entrance lies the antechamber which houses the tombs of Gurgi and his family. The historic monument mixes European and Islamic geometrics in a way that blends architectural styles from several civilizations in to one statement of art. [3] The Mustafa Gurgi Mosque is located in the Bab al-Bahr district, immediately beside the Mediterranean Sea's coasts. [4] This mosque, like the Ahmed Pasha Karamanli Mosque, is made up of three architectural blocks: the mosque, the tomb, and the school. This mosque has two entrances, one to the west on Al-Akwash Street and the other onto a short alley on the northern side. [5]
The historic landmark mixes European and Islamic geometrics into a single manifestation of art and beauty, fusing numerous architectural styles from different civilizations. Its walls and columns are adorned with natural marble, and its flooring are covered in multi-colored tiles, creating a wonderfully inspirational and appealing retreat. [6]
The minaret is an essential architectural component of the mosque. It is around 25 metres tall and has two balconies made of genuine green marble. [7] Particular attention should be paid to the mosque's arched entryway engraved with floral designs, as well as the praying hall with its towering marble columns, which provide significant creative results. [8] The Gurgi Mosque is constructed with 15 decorative domes. Visitors may explore the calligraphy on the walls, which are inscribed with Quranic passages in Andalusian script, as well as a variety of embellishments of geometric forms, plants, and flowers. In the courtyard of the mosque, like in other typical Ottoman-built mosques, there is a mausoleum for the founder, as well as other facilities. [2]