50. Ahrian Mosque
Brief documentation:
The mosque is located in the Ahrian district, today's Acropolis district. The original mosque that existed here dates back to the late 16th century, while it was reconstructed in 1850 after the earthquakes of 1829. In the 20th century, additions were made to the decoration and extensions.
In the courtyard of the mosque there is a cemetery with 28 burials, of which 14 survive inscriptions dating from 1580 to 1896.
The name of the mosque and the district is due to the settlement of Rhodopean populations (Ahriades). The mosque is probably identified with a mosque recorded in municipal property titles of the years 1675-1750, which mention that it was built by Mehmet Bey, nazir (=supervisor) of Drama. Xanthi belonged administratively to the sanjak of Drama until 1884.
The Ahrian mosque is probably mentioned by Evliya Çelebi during his tour of the area in the 17th century who mentions that there was also a medrese school in the mosque.
The building is probably constructed by Rhodopean craftsmen. Originally it was a single-aisled, stone-built mosque, with a four-pitched wooden roof. A prayer hall was added on the east side, while the building was extended on its north side. The wooden women's loft is also a later addition. The minbar (pulpit) is also wooden, with a simple, geometric configuration.
After later interventions, the wall of the qibla (the side of the mosque facing Mecca) has colorful ceramic decoration with floral motifs. The building is typical of Ottoman architecture.
The minaret is attached to the northwest side of the building and is likely to have survived the earthquakes that almost leveled the city of Xanthi in 1829, as it shows no signs of destruction like other minarets in mosques in the city. Originally it was polygonal externally, and has now been covered with mortar.
The mosque is open 5 times a day during prayer.
Category of thematic interestς: RELIGIOUS INTEREST
History:
The original building that existed here dates back to the late 16th century, while it was reconstructed in 1850 after the earthquakes of 1829. In the 20th century, additions were made to the decoration and side extensions.
In the courtyard of the building there is a small cemetery with 28 burials, of which 14 preserve inscriptions dating from 1580 to 1896.
The name of the mosque and the district is due to the settlement of Rhodopean populations (Ahriades). The mosque is probably identified with a mosque recorded in Ottoman Waqf census titles of municipal property of the years 1675-1750, which state that it was built by Mehmet Bey, nazir (=supervisor) of Drama. No inscription survives from the construction. Xanthi belonged administratively to the sanjzak of Drama until 1884.
The Ahrian mosque is probably mentioned by Evliya Çelebi during his tour of the area in the late 17th century who mentions that there was a medrese school in the area of the mosque.
Elements of architecture:
The mosque is probably built by Rhodopean craftsmen. Originally it was a single-aisled, stone-built mosque, with a four-pitched wooden roof. On the east side, a prayer room was added, independent of the rest of the space, while the building was extended to its north side.
The wooden women's loft is also a later addition and has a small semicircular protrusion, similar in configuration to other mosques (e.g. Çinar Mosque), as well as churches of the city (e.g. church of Agios Georgios and church of Akathist Hymn). The minbar (pulpit) is also wooden, with a simple, geometric configuration.
After later interventions, the wall of the qibla (the side of the mosque facing Mecca) has colorful ceramic decoration with floral motifs. The building is characteristic of Ottoman architecture, with the techniques applied by the building workshops of northern Greece at that time (stonework with wooden frames, wooden elements inside).
Description of other elements:
The minaret is attached to the northwest side of the building and is likely to have survived the earthquakes that almost leveled the city of Xanthi in 1829, as it shows no signs of destruction like other minarets in mosques in the city. Originally it was polygonal externally, and has now been covered with mortar.
Purpose - Use: Religious building
Characterization: Automatically protected, Competent Service: EFA of Xanthi
Dating (period): Mid-19th century
Year of construction: 1850
Location of the monument: 41.14597446291965, 24.88653042190085
Bibliographic references:
• Collective volume - Holy Metropolis of Xanthi and Margin, Religious Monuments in the prefecture of Xanthi, 2009
• Melkidi, C., The Muslim monuments of Xanthi, Athens, 2007
• Mavridis, D. (eds.), Xanthi, the city with a thousand colors, 2008
Address: Argyrokastrou 20
Visitable: No