Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
All Sciences Academy, Konya, 2025
The Divriği Great Mosque and Darüşşifa (hospital) is a UNESCO World Heritage site, recognized as a singular example of stone carving in Turkestan and Anatolia. Built between 1228 and 1243 during the Anatolian Seljuk State Mengücekli Principality period, this monumental complex was commissioned by Mengücekli Bey Ahmed Shah, his wife Melike Turan Melek, and his mother Fatima Hatun. The architect responsible was Ahlatlı Mughis son Hürrem Shah and his team. Evliya Çelebi, in his Seyahatname, described it with the words "Pens break and tongues become dumb to describe it," while Muhyiddin Arabi stated, "Arifs cannot describe their feelings." This unique structure is notable for being the only work from its period where a mosque and a darüşşifa are conjoined. It also stands out as the only historical work built by two women and one man, highlighting an era where equality prevailed and women were highly valued. Although initially a large complex, only the mosque and the darüşşifa remain today. The decorations on the building, which are said to carry the spirit of the region, appear symmetrical from a distance but are, in fact, asymmetrical, with each motif being distinct and unique. These intricate stone carvings, considered the finest of their time, are believed to connect the material and spiritual worlds, as well as the micro and macro worlds. Despite weathering and neglect over time, this architectural masterpiece continues to stand. Understanding its formation process requires extensive research into its historical context, tracing the path of Turks from Turkestan to Anatolia, and examining the contributions of the masters, architects, craftsmen, and artisans who built it. The emergence of this profoundly significant structure is a complex and demanding subject of study. This current compilation of information is a result of such ongoing research.
Key Words: Divriği Great Mosque and Darüşşifa, History, Anatolian Seljuk Period, Architecture.