Categories: Antiquities

Masterpieces of Architecture in Turkey Built by Armenians and Greeks

Almost all the most famous masterpieces of Islamic architecture in Turkey were built by Christian architects, mainly Armenians and Greeks.

Today, one can often hear theses in Azerbaijani groups about how evil Armenians destroy mosques. Similarly, Azerbaijanis aim to turn all Muslims against Armenians. But in fairness, it should be noted that in modern Turkey, more than 870 mosques are former Christian Armenian churches.

Besides these churches, about 360 mosques, including the most famous masterpieces of Turkey, were built by Armenian architects who, as Christians, erected religious buildings for Muslim believers.

We will bring up as examples only 10 of the most famous mosques in Turkey which are the symbols of this country.

Pertevniyal Valide Sultan Mosque 1869-1871 Architect-Sarkis Balian
Mosque Mihrimah Sultan (Uskudar) Built in the years 1546-1548 Architect Sinan
Suleymaniye Mosque Built in 1550-1557 Architect Sinan
Ortakoy Mosque. Built in 1854. Architect Nikogos Balyan
Sokolu Mehmed Pasha Mosque 1571-1572 years Architect Sinan
Ortakoy Mosque. Built in 1854. Architect Nikogos Balyan
Ortakoy Mosque. Built in 1854. Architect Nikogos Balyan
Suleymaniye Mosque Built in 1550-1557 Architect Sinan
Mosque Mihrimah Sultan (Uskudar) Built in the years 1546-1548 Architect Sinan
Selimiye Mosque (UNESCO World Heritage List) Built in 1569-1575 Architect Sinan
Vigen Avetisyan

View Comments

  • Seljuk Turk architecture in places like Esfahan Iran or Mosques in Uzbekistan built by Central Asian Turks is genuine Turkic Islamic architecture.

    Mosques built in Turkey by Sinan and other Christian converts were all copies of Byzantine Church architecture and in a sense it is not really Turkic and honestly I dont see it as part of Turkic history.

    I guess if you were to visit Esfhan Iran you"ll honestly realise how much more elegant the architecture is compared to the Suleymaniye Mosque in Turkey ( built by Sinan.)

    The Ottoman architecture was nothing but a fusion between Arab and Byzantine architecture and as such I could say it is the least of all Turkic architecture.

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