Great Mosque of Maarat al-Numan
Mosque in Maarat al-Numan, Syria
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The Great Mosque of Maarat al-Numan (Arabic: جَامِع مَعَرَّة ٱلنُّعْمَان ٱلْكَبِير, romanized: Jāmiʿ Maʿarrat an-Nuʿmān al-Kabīr) is a 12th-century Ayyubid-era mosque in the city of Maarat al-Numan, located between Hama and Aleppo in Syria.[1]
(12th century–c. 2016)
| Great Mosque of Maarat al-Numan | |
|---|---|
جَامِع مَعَرَّة ٱلنُّعْمَان ٱلْكَبِير | |
The ablution area of the former mosque in 2010 | |
  Location of the former mosque in Syria | |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Islam (former) |
| Mosque (12th century–c. 2016) | |
| Status | Inactive (ruinous state) |
| Location | |
| Location | Maarat al-Numan, Idlib Governorate |
| Country | Syria |
 Interactive map of Great Mosque of Maarat al-Numan | |
| Coordinates | 35°38′59″N 36°40′40″E |
| Architecture | |
| Architect | Hassan Ben Mukri al-Sarman |
| Type | Islamic architecture |
| Style | Ayyubid |
| Completed | 12th century CE |
| Destroyed | c. 2016 |
| Minaret | 1 |
Architecture
Rebuilt in the first half of the twelfth century, the mosque is located on the site of an earlier church and, before that, likely a pagan temple. The mosque is centered on a large rectangular sahn with a long, shallow prayer hall with six domes that cover the central bays before the mihrab. The architectural features are reminiscent of the layout of the Umayyad Mosque in Damascus.[2] A water tank covered by a canopy resting on ten columns with antique Corinthian capitals stood at the centre of the sahn.[1]
The mosque's square minaret is similar to the former minaret of the Great Mosque of Aleppo.[2] An inscription on the minaret attributes the work to Qahir ibn 'Ali ibn Qanit (d. 1199 CE).[1]
Destruction
In June 2016 air-raids targeting the Idlib Governorate caused severe structural damage to the mosque. Several stone archways collapsed, and wall surfaces were marred by shrapnel. Additionally, a modern metal awning, added to provide shade in the courtyard, was destroyed.[3] While the mosque has suffered damages from previous bombings, this was the first time that it was directly hit.
Gallery
Minaret of the former mosque, in 2010
