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Great Mosque, Birgi, İzmir
Birgi Mahallesi, Camiönü Sk., 35750 Ödemiş/İzmir, Turchia
RELIGIONS Islam
DESCRIPTION OF THE RELIGIOUS SITE
DESCRIPTION The Great Mosque sits on top of a steep creek bank. The northern façade where people enter, is rather plain. There is an inscription giving the name of the founder as Mehmed Bey, son of Aydın and the date of construction as 1312-13. Interior is designed as a basilica with five aisles separated from one another by rows of re-used columns supporting arches. The square area before the mihrab is covered with a dome.
The mihrab has the decoration in tile-mosaic technique with turquoise and aubergine-purple tiles following the Seljuq tradition. Apart from fine tile decorations, the woodwork of minbar and window wings represent very fine taste of 14th century. The minbar was made of walnut wood and it is kündekari technique. All heavily decorated pieces were attached to each other like pieces in a puzzle and no nails or glue were used.
Next to mosque is monumental tomb (türbe) of Mehmet Bey who commissioned the mosque.
The town is also famous for the tomb of Islamic theologian, Imam Mehmet of Birgi (Mehmet Birgivi) who lived and thought here in the 16th century.
HISTORICAL RELEVANCE Following the same historical transformation, Birgi was once an ancient Greek settlement then Byzantine town and fell into Turkish rule in 1307 becoming the capital of newly founded Aydınoglu Emirate. Later at the end of the 14th century it was already under the Ottoman rule.
Birgi became an attraction center for who wanted to study theology due to a scholar teaching here in the 16th century. His fame comes from his critical approach of corrupted system of governance. He believed that the Muslim should live as in the times of the Prophet and the ruling elites should not distinguish themselves from ordinary people. His motto was that a ruler should be a servant of his servants.
He was strictly against visits to the tombs for praying and wishing something. But ironically his tomb is now being visited by thousands of people every year.
The visitors, after visiting the tomb of Mehmet Birgivi has the chance to visit the beautiful Great Mosque of Birgi.
INTER-RELIGIOUS RELEVANCE There is no inter-religious relevance to speak of but both the tomb of Mehmet Birgivi and the Great Mosque are frequently visited by Muslims coming from different regions of Turkey.
RELIGIOUS INFLUENCE The popularity of tomb of Mehmet Birigivi is a clear example of people seeking for help for their problem through an interlocutor rather than the God himself. What makes this tomb more special is that the contradiction between the ideals of Mehmet Birigivi who rejected visits to the tombs back in 16th century and now his tomb being a popular place to visit and pray.
HOW TO USE WITH THE STUDENTS - Direct visit
This is the ideal way but a virtual visit through a PPP presentation prepared by the teacher is also possible.
- Virtual visit (specify how)
This is the ideal way but a virtual visit through a PPP presentation prepared by the teacher is also possible.
- Classroom activity (pre- and post- visit)
Pre-visit: Research on if there are some tombs of holy people in their region that is visited frequently by people.
Post-visit: Discussion on the motive of visiting a tomb of a religious personality. Discussion can be led to the difference between a visit a tomb to pay tribute to a personality or a religiously motivated visit to a tomb.
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