Diyarbakır Ulu Camii

Diyarbakır Grand Mosque is one of the oldest mosques in Anatolia and the largest among the historic mosques in the city. Although its exact construction date is unknown, the mosque was established after the conquest of Diyarbakır in 639 CE during the caliphate of Hz. Ömer, by converting the city’s largest church, the Mar Toma Church, into a mosque. It is regarded as the fifth Harem-i Şerif (Holy Sanctuary) in the Islamic world, following the Kaaba, the Prophet’s Mosque, the Al-Aqsa Mosque, and the Umayyad Mosque of Damascus. This structure, interpreted as an Anatolian reflection of the Umayyad Mosque of Damascus, has served as a center of worship throughout history and forms the largest complex of buildings in Diyarbakır.

^{Diyarbakır Grand Mosque (}Diyarbakır Governorship⁾

All states that ruled in Diyarbakır have placed great importance on the Grand Mosque. Inscriptions and decrees from the Great Seljuk ruler Melikşah, the Anatolian Seljuk ruler Gıyaseddin Keyhüsrev, the Akkoyunlu ruler Uzun Hasan, numerous Ottoman sultans, as well as the İnaloğulları, Nisanoğulları, and Artuqids, are found at various locations within the mosque. In 1091, under the order of Melikşah, the mosque underwent major restoration and acquired its present form through successive additions and repairs over different periods. Architectural decorations, reliefs, and inscriptions from various eras on the courtyard facades coexist harmoniously.

^{Reliefs on the courtyard facade (}Turkey Culture Portal-Iskan Altın⁾

The Diyarbakır Grand Mosque has a rectangular plan and resembles a külliye with a large courtyard at its center. To the south of the courtyard is the Hanafi section, to the north the Shafi’i section and the Mesudiye Medrese, to the west the Zinciriye Medrese, and to the east the arcaded sections. Access to the mosque is provided through three separate gates; the eastern main (crown) gate is notable for its symmetrical relief figures depicting the struggle between lions and bulls. The interior features a plan supported by numerous columns, and the ceiling and surfaces of the central area are adorned with kalem decorations characteristic of the Ottoman period.

^{Central ceiling decorated in Ottoman-style kalem work (}Turkey Culture Portal-Haluk Yurtörten⁾

• Eastern Maksura: Built in 1163–1164 by İnaloğlu Mahmut and his vizier Nisanoğlu Ali. The upper floor was added during the Ottoman period to serve as a library; both levels feature Corinthian-style column capitals decorated with embroidery.
• Western Maksura: The lower floor was constructed in 1117 and the upper floor in 1124 by İnaloğlu Ebu Mansur. A portion was restored during the reign of the Akkoyunlu ruler Uzun Hasan.
• Sundial: The sundial located in the courtyard, designed by El Cezeri, has a history of over 900 years. It indicates time through the shadow cast by a metal plate placed on a circular marble slab as the sun moves. In the 1920s it was moved to its current location and an iron structure was added around it for preservation.
• Shadirvan: The octagonal shadirvan, built in 1849, rests on marble-carved columns and is covered by a pointed dome.
• Hanafi Section: One of the oldest spaces in the külliye, this section has a three-aisled plan parallel to the mihrab. The central area is covered internally by a dome and externally by a broken roof, and its interior is animated by dense kalem decorations.
• Shafi’i Section: Built in the 12th century by the İnaloğulları, it was restored during the reign of Kanuni Sultan Süleyman by Atak Beyi Emir Ahmet Zırki.
• Mesudiye Medrese: A two-story structure built of cut stone, oriented east-west, with a nearly square courtyard at its center. Today it serves as the Manuscripts Library.
• Zinciriye Medrese: Also known as Sincariye Medrese, this single-story structure has two eyvans. It was used as the Diyarbakır Archaeological Museum in 1934 and is located beside the mosque.

The Diyarbakır Grand Mosque attracts both local and foreign tourists due to its architectural features and historical significance. With unique elements such as El Cezeri’s sundial and inscriptions bearing traces of diverse civilizations, it continues to stand as a symbol of Anatolia’s rich cultural heritage.

^{Interior of Diyarbakır Grand Mosque (}Diyarbakır Governorship⁾