Mosque of pasha Qasim (Pécs)
Encyclopedia
The Mosque of Pasha Qasim is one of the symbols of the city of Pécs
, Hungary
, located in the city centre, on the main square (Széchenyi square
). Today, it functions as a catholic church. The building, hundred steps both its length and its width, was built by Pasha Qasim the Victorious between 1543 and 1546. The minaret
of the mosque
was brought down by the Jesuits in 1766. It is still one of the largest Turkish buildings that remained in Hungary. It harbours the characteristics of Turkish architecture.
, the famous Turkish traveller wrote of the overwhelming majesty of its view. The mosque was built upon the ruins of Saint Bertalan church by using its rocks - transforming it to the mosque of the city. A number of changes had been made on the building between the 18th and the 20th centuries. Its minaret was ultimately taken down but had been previously enlarged. Only the main square part remained of the original structure: the octagon drum, covered by a dome. There are arc windows in two rows on the façade of its south-eastern, south western and north-eastern part; 3-3 and 4-4 pieces. Inside the church, in the remaining plaster parts the Turkish decoration and inscriptions of the Qur'an
are clearly visible. The Turkish pulpit and the women's balcony were destroyed and the mihrab
is not the original either. The two Turkish bathing basins before the sacristies
(today holy water) are taken from the former bath of the pasha next to the church. Today, the building functions as a Catholic church.
Pécs
Pécs is the fifth largest city of Hungary, located on the slopes of the Mecsek mountains in the south-west of the country, close to its border with Croatia. It is the administrative and economical centre of Baranya county...
, Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
, located in the city centre, on the main square (Széchenyi square
Széchenyi square (Pécs)
Széchenyi square is the main square in the historical centre of Pécs, Hungary. In the Middle Ages it served as the market place of the town with the city hall and the parish church. Before the square was named Széchenyi in 1864 it had had several other names like Fórum, Városi piacz , Főtér...
). Today, it functions as a catholic church. The building, hundred steps both its length and its width, was built by Pasha Qasim the Victorious between 1543 and 1546. The minaret
Minaret
A minaret مناره , sometimes مئذنه) is a distinctive architectural feature of Islamic mosques, generally a tall spire with an onion-shaped or conical crown, usually either free standing or taller than any associated support structure. The basic form of a minaret includes a base, shaft, and gallery....
of the mosque
Mosque
A mosque is a place of worship for followers of Islam. The word is likely to have entered the English language through French , from Portuguese , from Spanish , and from Berber , ultimately originating in — . The Arabic word masjid literally means a place of prostration...
was brought down by the Jesuits in 1766. It is still one of the largest Turkish buildings that remained in Hungary. It harbours the characteristics of Turkish architecture.
History
Standing at the highest point of Pécs's Széchenyi square, the mosque of pasha Qasim is the greatest example of Turkish architecture in Hungary. It was probably built in the second half of the 16th century. In the 1660s Evliya ÇelebiEvliya Çelebi
Evliya Çelebi was an Ottoman traveler who journeyed through the territory of the Ottoman Empire and neighboring lands over a period of forty years.- Life :...
, the famous Turkish traveller wrote of the overwhelming majesty of its view. The mosque was built upon the ruins of Saint Bertalan church by using its rocks - transforming it to the mosque of the city. A number of changes had been made on the building between the 18th and the 20th centuries. Its minaret was ultimately taken down but had been previously enlarged. Only the main square part remained of the original structure: the octagon drum, covered by a dome. There are arc windows in two rows on the façade of its south-eastern, south western and north-eastern part; 3-3 and 4-4 pieces. Inside the church, in the remaining plaster parts the Turkish decoration and inscriptions of the Qur'an
Qur'an
The Quran , also transliterated Qur'an, Koran, Alcoran, Qur’ān, Coran, Kuran, and al-Qur’ān, is the central religious text of Islam, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God . It is regarded widely as the finest piece of literature in the Arabic language...
are clearly visible. The Turkish pulpit and the women's balcony were destroyed and the mihrab
Mihrab
A mihrab is semicircular niche in the wall of a mosque that indicates the qibla; that is, the direction of the Kaaba in Mecca and hence the direction that Muslims should face when praying...
is not the original either. The two Turkish bathing basins before the sacristies
Sacristy
A sacristy is a room for keeping vestments and other church furnishings, sacred vessels, and parish records.The sacristy is usually located inside the church, but in some cases it is an annex or separate building...
(today holy water) are taken from the former bath of the pasha next to the church. Today, the building functions as a Catholic church.
Sources
- Rados Jenő: Magyar építészettörténet (p. 161-168) - 1961. Bp. Műszaki K. - ETO 72 (439) 091
- Szerk. Fülep L.: A magyarországi művészet története (p. 371-372) - Bp.1961. Képzőmúv. Alap K. - Kossuth Ny. 61.3465.
- Goldziher Ignác: Az iszlám kultúrája - Gondolat K. Bp. 1981. - ISBN 963 280 607 7
- H. Stierlin: Iszlám művészet és építészet - Bp. Alexandra K. - ISBN 963 368 127 8
- H. Stierlin. Türkei - Architektur von Seldschuken bis Osmanen - Taschen Weltarchitektur - ISBN 382287857X (German)