Gurgi Mosque
Mosque in Tripoli, Libya
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Gurgi Mosque (Arabic: جامع قرجي) is a Sunni Islam mosque, located in Tripoli, Libya. The mosque lies in the heart of old Tripoli (the Medina) as part of a complex of historic buildings. The mosque is an important tourist attraction, as is the area as a whole; nearby is the Roman Arch of Marcus Aurelius.[1]
| Gurgi Mosque | |
|---|---|
Arabic: جامع قرجي | |
The mosque exterior, in 2012 | |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Sunni Islam |
| Ecclesiastical or organisational status | Mosque |
| Status | Active |
| Location | |
| Location | Tripoli, Tripolitania |
| Country | Libya |
  Location of the mosque in Tripoli | |
| Coordinates | 32°53′58″N 13°10′32″E |
| Architecture | |
| Type | Mosque architecture |
| Style | Ottoman |
| Completed | 1834 |
| Specifications | |
| Dome | 15 |
| Minaret | One |
| Minaret height | 25 m (82 ft) |
| Materials | Marble |
History
The mosque was commissioned by Mustafa Gurgi and built in 1834. Tripoli then was under Ottoman ruler Pasha Yusuf Karamanli,[1] whose reign extended from 1795 to 1832.The Gurgi Mosque was built by the command of the naval captain Mustafa Gurgi.[1] Gurgi is an Arabic word which means "from Georgia".[2] To the right of the entrance lies the antechamber which houses the tombs of Gurgi and his family. The historic monument mixes European and Islamic geometrics in a way that blends architectural styles from several civilizations in to one statement of art.[3] The Mustafa Gurgi Mosque is located in the Bab al-Bahr district, immediately beside the Mediterranean Sea's coasts.[4] This mosque, like the Ahmed Pasha Karamanli Mosque, is made up of three architectural blocks: the mosque, the tomb, and the school. This mosque has two entrances, one to the west on Al-Akwash Street and the other onto a short alley on the northern side.[5]
Structure
The historic landmark mixes European and Islamic geometrics into a single manifestation of art and beauty, fusing numerous architectural styles from different civilizations. Its walls and columns are adorned with natural marble, and its flooring are covered in multi-colored tiles, creating a wonderfully inspirational and appealing retreat.[6]
The minaret is an essential architectural component of the mosque. It is approximately 25 m (82 ft) tall and has two balconies made of genuine green marble.[7] The mosque's arched entryway are engraved with floral designs, as well as the prayer hall, with its towering marble columns, that provide significant creative results.[8] The Gurgi Mosque is constructed with 15 decorative domes.
Visitors may explore the calligraphy on the walls, which are inscribed with Quranic passages in Andalusian script, as well as a variety of embellishments of geometric forms, plants, and flowers. In the courtyard of the mosque, like in other typical Ottoman-built mosques, there is a mausoleum for the founder, as well as other facilities.[2]
