Seljuk and Ottoman wooden mosques under UNESCO protection

Wooden hypostyle mosques of medieval Anatolia in Turkey have been included in the
UNESCO World Heritage List. The mosques were inscribed on the UNESCO list at the extended 45th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. This brings the number of inscribed sites in Turkey on the list of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization to 21.

The list includes five hypostyle mosques built in Anatolia in the late 13th and mid-14th centuries, each located in a different Turkish region. Among them are the Great Mosque in the western province of Afyon, the Great Mosque of Sivrihisar in the central province of Eskisehir, the Ahi Serafettin (Aslanhane) Mosque in the capital Ankara, the Esrefoglu Mosque in Beysehir district of the central province of Konya, and the Mahmut Bey Mosque in the northern province of Kastamonu.

Although they have different locations, the mosques share common technical characteristics – they are all known for the skillful wood carving and craftsmanship used in their structures, architectural elements, and furniture. The mosques represent an extraordinary level of carpentry skill and aesthetics with their minbars made using the “kündekari” technique – a decorative art method in which small pieces of wood cut into geometric shapes are joined to form a large surface, resembling engraving, according to UNESCO. In addition, the mosques feature “kalem işi” decorations and meticulous wood processing on doors, columns, and ceiling beams.

Seljuk and Ottoman wooden mosques in Anatolia are rare examples of religious
architecture using wood and featuring impressive handmade decorations. These
historical structures, well-preserved from the Middle Ages to the present day, reflect Anatolian life and culture. The tradition of building mosques with wooden roofs and wooden columns continued until the beginning of the 20th century and to this day.

The Beyşehir Eşrefoğlu Mosque is the largest among the Anatolian wooden mosques with columns and beams. Built between 1296 and 1299, the mosque reflects the magnificence of stone and wood craftsmanship from the Seljuk period. It contains all the characteristics found in numerous Seljuk mosques: multiple wooden columns, a ceiling entirely decorated with wood and “kalem işi” motifs, and a completely wooden minbar.

The Sivrihisar Ulu Mosque is a rare example of a large wooden-columned mosque in Anatolia. The eight-century-old Sivrihisar Ulu Mosque, which can accommodate 2,500 worshippers simultaneously, has four entrance doors and a roof supported by 67 wooden columns. Handmade motifs adorn their upper parts. The mosque is also known for its walnut wood minbar decorated with geometric and floral ornaments.

The Kasabaköy Mahmut Bey Mosque, built in 1366 during the Çandarlı beylik – one of the principalities founded as a result of the fall of the Seljuks, holds a prominent place among wooden mosques in Anatolia. It is interesting because it was built without a single nail. The mosque's portal, a masterpiece of art, is now preserved in the Kastamonu Ethnographic Museum. A replica of the original portal has been placed in its location.

The Ahi Şerefeddin Mosque, also known as Arslanhane, is a significant 800-year-old work. Built in the early 13th century, the mosque is named Arslanhane, meaning “lion’s den” in Turkish, due to an ancient lion statue buried in the wall of the tomb complex located to its east.

The Afyonkarahisar Ulu Mosque, one of the largest mosques in the city, was built between 1272 and 1277. The mosque is one of the unique examples of the Seljuk period with its wooden and brick architecture adorned with glazed tiles. The wooden beam roof is supported by 40 wooden columns crafted by artisans.